Australia fight back to rescue a point in Bahrain

Australia were left with mixed emotions in Riffa on Wednesday morning (AEDT), sharing the points in a 2-2 draw with Bahrain at Bahrain National Stadium.

The game was going to plan for the Socceroos for the majority of the match, with Kusini Yengi opening the scoring just 38 seconds in.

Australia did well in limiting their opponents to very few opportunities throughout the match; however, Mahdi Abduljabba bagged two goals in as many minutes later in the second half to fire Bahrain into a shock lead.

Yengi popped up again in stoppage time to ensure Australia left Riffa with something to show for their efforts.

Team News

Tony Popovic made six changes to the team that played out a 0-0 stalemate with Saudi Arabia, with only Cameron Burgess, Harry Souttar, Riley McGree, Jackson Irvine and Lewis Miller starting again. 

Captain Maty Ryan returned in goal, with defender Hayden Matthews earning his debut for the Socceroos and Aziz Behich returning to the team. Anthony Caceres also picked up his first start in the Green and Gold, with Kusini Yengi and Craig Goodwin introduced to the team. 

Popovic continued with his 3-4-2-1 formation, an ever-present feature since his arrival as head coach.

Bahrain differed from their usual three-back system, opting for a back four. 

They were forced into a change following defender Waleed Al Hayam’s red card in last week’s China defeat; Hamad Al-Shamsan coming in to replace him. 

In-form goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla started while creator Mohamed Marhoon lined up, eager to add to his brace against Indonesia in the FIFA October window - Bahrain’s last two goals in the competition.

First Half

The Socceroos could not have wished for a better start to the match. Within 40 seconds, after a brilliant through ball from debutant Matthews, Yengi charged down a misplaced pass from the Bahrain defender and eventually latched onto it, rounding Bahrain goalkeeper Lutfalla and firing a left-footed shot into the middle of the goal. 

The hosts then settled into the game and swiftly pushed Australia back, eager to rectify their deficit.

However, the Socceroos continued to create chances and came close to scoring twice midway through the half. Riley McGree slid the ball from the left of the box towards Yengi, where Lutfalla smothered the subsequent shot. 

Moments later, Craig Goodwin hit a strike from the right edge of the box that flew narrowly over.

Australia had been buoyed by their early goal, limiting Bahrain to very few attacking forays and even fewer shots in the first half. The visitors took their slender advantage into the break.

Second Half

Australia weathered an early spell of pressure from Bahrain who sought a goal to get back into the game.

Yengi was just inches away from his second goal just after the hour mark, directing the ball with his chest onto the right post with an audacious effort. Not long after, the striker received Aziz Behich’s cutback in the box but could not quite sort his feet out and was tackled in the box.

The Socceroos were almost left to rue these missed chances in the 64th minute when Ibrahim Al-Khatal had his close-range strike expertly blocked by Burgess.

In the 75th minute, Bahrain found the equaliser they had craved. Burgess mis-controlled a long ball forward and it dropped to Abduljabba whose first-time strike from near halfway dropped into the goal.

Less than two minutes later, the home side went in front. A left-sided cross took a looping deflection off Hayden Matthews' head, bouncing onto the right post. Abduljabbar reacted fastest and steered in a big goal in the context of qualification.

Australia regained their composure and pushed forward in desperate pursuit of a goal.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Jason Geria put in a right-sided delivery and found Ajdin Hrustic in the box, whose effort didn't trouble Lutfalla.

In a dramatic finale, the Socceroos found the equaliser they had so desperate craved. Six minutes into stoppage time, Brandon Borrello battled for the ball in the box, and it spun into Yengi’s path, who drove a low shot under Lutfalla, scoring his second of the night.

A lengthy VAR check gave Australia around five minutes to find a much-needed winner. But they could not score their third of the match and had to settle for a point. 

The result keeps the Socceroos second in Group C behind runaway leaders Japan, and they will host Indonesia next time in March 2025.

Match Details

Bahrain: 2 (Mahdi Abduljabba 75’, 77’)

Australia: 2 (Kusini Yengi 1’, 90+6’)

Date: Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Venue: Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa

Australia Lineup: 1. Maty Ryan (GK), 3. Lewis Miller (Geria 63’), 17. Hayden Matthews, 19. Harry Souttar, 21. Cameron Burgess, 16. Aziz Behich (Bos 68’), 7. Anthony Caceres, 22. Jackson Irvine (O’Neil 63’), 23. Craig Goodwin (Hrustic 68’), 14. Riley McGree (Borrello 81’), 9. Kusini Yengi

Unused Substitutes: 18. Joe Gauci (GK), 12. Paul Izzo, 2. Milos Degenek, 4. Rhyan Grant, 20. Max Balard, 6. Martin Boyle, 15. Mitch Duke

Yellow Cards: Caceres 61’

Bahrain Lineup: 22. Ebrahim Lutfalla, 2. Amine Benaddi, 5. Hamad Al-Shamsan, 4. Sayed Saeed, 8. Mohamed Marhoon (Emmanuel 90+1’), 14. Al Abdulla Haram (Humaidan 45’), 23. Abdulla El Khalassy, 16. Sayed Baqer (Nabeel 90+1’), 19. Kamil Al-Aswad, 11. Ibrahim Al-Khatal (Abduljabba  66’), 7. Ali Madan (Al Sherooqi 66’)

Unused Substitutes: 1. Ammar Ahmed (GK), 21. Sayed Jaafar, 17. Hazaa Ali, 15. Abbas Fadhel, 13. Moses Jona, 9. Husain Abdulaziz, 10. Sayed Ahmed

Yellow Cards: Baqer 74’

Next Match:

Australia v Indonesia

Thursday, 20 March 2025

Venue: TBC

Kick-off: TBC