Socceroos rescue a point with misfiring 2-2 draw against Bahrain in FIFA World Cup qualification clash in Riffa
By Simon Smale
Topic:Socceroos
Kusini Yengi opened the scoring inside the opening minute.
Skip to timelineThe Socceroos have rescued a point from the jaws of defeat in a frantic finale to earn a 2-2 draw with Bahrain in Riffa.
Kusini Yengi put the Socceroos ahead in 38 seconds, capitalising on a horrible error at the back.
He then hit the post in the second half and missed another golden chance, before two goals in as many minutes from substitute Mahdi Abduljabbar stunned the Socceroos.
Abduljabbar launched a speculative strike from 40 yards after an error from Cameron Burgess, before pouncing on a rebound after a cross was deflected onto the post to send the home fans into delirium.
Yengi's leveller six minutes into stoppage time rescued the Socceroos blushes, sending them one point clear of the pack in second place in their World Cup qualification pool.
With Saudi Arabia's shock 2-0 defeat against Indonesia hanging over the group, a victory for the Socceroos could have created some daylight between the Aussies and the rest of the pack.
And, after just 38 seconds it looked like the Socceroos were well on track to do just that.
Yengi's assured finish from a gift of an error by Sayed Baqer at the back, his backpass woefully short, leaving Ebrahim Lutfalla stranded.
But that opening provided false hope, the Socceroos once again wasteful in front of goal, with Yengi in particular guilty of a number of missed chances, that eventually came back to bite them.
"There were a couple of really good of chances to make it 2-0 in the second half that we didn't capitalise on," Tony Popovic told Paramount Plus after the match.
"I would have liked [Yengi] to have scored that one at 1-0 when the ball was cut back because I think that would have been game over.
"We gave away a couple of goals quickly and then showed great character to get back
"It's an important point, keeps us in second place and we move forward to the next window."
Yengi was denied once by the woodwork, once by the goalkeeper and again by the Bahrain defence as the Socceroos looked in control despite the narrow lead.
However, Abduljabbar's two magical goals stunned the Socceroos and saw them staring down the barrel of just a second ever defeat to Bahrain, following from the shock 1-0 reverse at home on the Gold Coast in September.
Yengi, despite his earlier misses, managed to scramble home the equaliser during a lengthy period of stoppage time to spare the Socceroos blushes for what would have been a shocking second defeat to Bahrain in this qualification period.
The result further complicates the Socceroos' path to automatic qualification, with barely any room for error for Popovic's side.
When qualification resumes in the new year, the Socceroos will host Indonesia and Japan either side of a trip to China, facing a tough trip to Saudi Arabia in the final game.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
Full time: Socceroos rescue draw
90+6' THE SOCCEROOS EQUALISE!
77' BAHRAIN ARE AHEAD! BAHRAIN ARE AHEAD!
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Live updates
PinnedLive updates: Bahrain vs Socceroos
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By Simon Smale
SBy Simon Smale
The Socceroos could have gone a long way towards claiming ownership of that second automatic qualification spot from this group with a win today.
Instead, it's all very much still to play for.
When qualification resumes in the new year, the Socceroos will host Indonesia and Japan either side of a trip to China, facing a tough trip to Saudi Arabia in the final game.
Each one of those is must win, with qualification in the Socceroos hands.
Thanks for joining me this morning, it's been a ball.
We'll catch you again next time.
'Everyone's finding it hard to get consecutive results': Popovic
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By Simon Smale
Here's Tony Popovic, talking to Paramount Plus.
"There's a lot of emotions now because a lot happened in the match," Popovic says.
"We took the lead early, which was great
"There were a couple of really good of chances to make it 2-0 in the second half that we didn't capitalise on.
"We gave away a couple of goals quickly and then showed great character to get back
"It's an important point, keeps us in second place and we move forward to the next window."
He says he was pleased with Yengi's performance, but alluded to the striker not finishing his chances.
Key Event"It was good. I would have liked him to have scored that one at 1-0 when the ball was cut back because I think that would have been game over.
"Everyone's finding it hard to get consecutive results."
Full time: Socceroos rescue draw
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By Simon Smale
Well, I don't think many of us would have seen that second half coming.
The Socceroos were in such control, but two goals in two minutes from Abduljabar almost turned a regulation win into an absolute disaster.
It took a last-gasp scrambled goal from Kusini Yengi to level things for the Socceroos, who end this international window with two, unsatisfactory draws from their two matches.
The Socceroos deserve credit for managing to escape with a draw in the end, but it should never have come to that.
90+12' Still we play on
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By Simon Smale
The Socceroos are still pushing for a winner and have a free kick after Geria slipped.
One of the Bahrain bench is unhappy with that, but he's been yellow carded for his protests.
90+9' Bahrain coach Dragan Talajić is booked
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By Simon Smale
Four minutes after the goal is scored, we're back underway.
We'll still be playing at lunchtime AEDT at this rate.
Key Event90+6' THE SOCCEROOS EQUALISE!
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By Simon Smale
Yengi with the equaliser!
It was Hrustic who created the chance from the left, sending in a deep cross to O'Neill, who had a couple of stabs at the ball at the back post before the ball squirts out to Yengi, who hammers the ball home.
VAR is checking though...
I can't see what the referee might have seen, but the VAR check is ongoing...
There is a Bahrain player down in the penalty area too, Abdulla Al Khalasi.
The goal stands!
90+5' Anywhere will do for Bahrain
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By Simon Smale
Every clearance is greeted with a cheer from the Bahrain supporters.
90+4' Chance Socceroos
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By Simon Smale
Ebrahim Lutfalla takes a chance, diving full stretch out of his area to head the ball away.
Jordan Bos now has the ball from the throw, twisting and turning and getting stymied at every opportunity it seems before the flag goes up for an offside.
90+3' Chance Socceroos!
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By Simon Smale
Lovely ball from Geria, who has all sorts of space on the right side, finding Hrustic on the edge of the penalty area.
His shot is saved by a diving Ebrahim Lutfalla, who bobbles the ball but then regathers.
90+1' There will be 10 minutes added at the end of the 90
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By Simon Smale
Plenty enough time for the Socceroos.
89' Bahrain player is down with cramp
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By Simon Smale
I think we'll see a fair amount of this to be honest.
One of the Bahrain players is down.
Vincent Ani Emmanuel and Ahmed Nabeel are waiting to come on.
Meanwhile, Sayed Baqer, the player down, needs a stretcher apparently.
84' Two players down
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By Simon Smale
Harry Souttar is down for the Socceroos.
Amine Benaddi is down too.
The reason is that Souttar, attacking a corner, managed to head the Bahrain defender smack in the haw.
There is blood coming from Souttar's rock of a bonce - a fair amount of it too.
As for Bennaddi, he looks in all sorts.
They need to find a goal quickly...
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By Simon Smale
What is it with the Socceroos ..need a few upfront that can find the net.
- Norm
81' Sub for the Socceroos
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By Simon Smale
Brandon Borrello is on.
Riley McGree is off.
The Socceroos have a corner that is swung in but, despite their overwhelming height advantage, Bahrain head it clear.
Key Event77' BAHRAIN ARE AHEAD! BAHRAIN ARE AHEAD!
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By Simon Smale
Mahdi Abduljabbar has a second in as many minutes!
An innocuous cross from the left, deflected off the head of Hayden Matthews, past Mat Ryan onto the post and Abduljabbar was there to slam home!
Disaster for Australia.
75' BAHRAIN SCORE A SCREAMER!
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By Simon Smale
OUT OF NOTHING!
Mahdi Abduljabbar saw the ball bounce to him off the thigh of Cameron Burgess and, spotting Mat Ryan off his line, has hammered the ball 40 yards over his head and into the net.
Riotous scenes in Riffa!
The Socceroos, who have had the chances to put this game to bed, are now back on level terms.
74' Yellow card Sayed Baqer
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By Simon Smale
Sayed Baqer is absolutely livid with Hyung-Jin Ko.
He has been shown a yellow card for his protestations after Australia were given a freekick for one of their own players kicking in some friendly fire.
He has a point. He made it in the wrong way.
72' Chance Bahrain!
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By Simon Smale
A Mohamed Marhoon glancing header from a freekick skids just wide of the upright, with Mat Ryan just shepherding it wide and out for a goal kick.
The Socceroos keeper had it covered, but Bahrain are getting close.
71' Chance Bahrain
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By Simon Smale
Bahrain has a corner, swept in at pace but Harry Souttar smashes it away with his mighty noggin.
Bahrain battle with Geria to get the ball back into the danger zone, but there is an offside.
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