AFC Asian Qualifiers
Reduced to 10 players following Kusini Yengi’s sending off in the 77th minute, Australia were dealt a body blow in the closing minutes when Harry Souttar inadvertently deflected Abdulla Alkhalasi’s cross from the left into his own net as Bahrain recorded their first ever win against the Socceroos.
Playing in the Gold Coast for the first time, Australia had an opportunity to take the lead after only two minutes when Alessandro Circati’s attempt took a heavy deflection that needed Ebrahim Lutfulla to tip the ball over from under his crossbar.
Bahrain were happy to sit behind the ball with head coach Dragan Talajic’s tactics geared towards trying to find the pacy Ali Madan with long passes behind Australia’s defence.
Australia went close to breaking the deadlock from a short corner kick routine in the 33rd minute, Craig Goodwin drove into the box and delivered a cross that was hooked over the bar by Aiden O’Neill.
Goodwin was at the heart of everything in Australia’s attack, his first-time cross from the left two minutes before the break presented Yengi with a great chance, only for the Portsmouth FC forward to skew his effort wide from close range.
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Both sides emerged for the second half with the same players but after 13 minutes of little goalmouth action for either side, Australia’s Graham Arnold was the first to tweak, sending on Bayern Munich II forward Nestory Irankunda for Martin Boyle.
With his forward line showing signs of fatigue, Talajic responded by replacing strikers Madan and Mahdi Hasan with Husain Abdulaziz and Ebrahim Alkhatal.
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The second half was a stop-start affair with Bahrain given a numerical advantage in the 77th minute when Yengi was shown the red card after his high foot caught defender Sayed Baqer in the neck.
Taking full advantage of Yengi’s dismissal, Bahrain struck in the 89th minute when Alkhalasi’s cross from the left deflected off Souttar and flew past a stranded Mathew Ryan in goal.
Bahrain will take this win back to Riffa where they will take on Japan next while Australia head to Jakarta to face Indonesia, with both matches taking place on Tuesday.
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