Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Terengganu: Bahrain claimed their second win in their 2017 AFC Beach Soccer Championship campaign in Group A following a 6-5 win over hosts Malaysia in Kuala Terengganu on Monday.
Both sides traded shots during the first 10 minutes until the visitors broke the deadlock with a cool swipe by Abdulla Al Malki but the lead did not last long as Shafiq Huzair equalised with a long-range shot into the unguarded Oman goal.
However the Bahrainis regained the lead just a few seconds later with a strike by skipper Rashed Jamal before the end of the first period.
Bahrain renewed their intentions just a minute into the second period and it was custodian Saleh Mohamed this time getting on the score-sheet with Bahrain’s third before Mohamed Abdulla extended the lead on 17 minutes.
Ayoob Salem then widened the gap some more with a header but Zaharim Yusof answered promptly two minutes later to cut the Malaysians’ deficit.
The Malaysians then inched closer to levelling matters through Fakhrullah Mohamad’s strike following a smart inter-play among the hosts in front of goal before the second period ended.
Bahrain threatened in the third period when two of their attempts struck the woodwork but it was Khairul Nizam who scored as the Malaysians brought it down to 5-4 with five minutes remaining.
However Abdulla Al Abdulla (pictured right) scored Oman’s sixth with a free-kick on 32 minutes before Yusof claimed his second but it was too little too late for the Malaysians.
The top three finishers at the 2017 AFC Beach Soccer Championship will represent Asia at the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Nassau, Bahamas from April 27 to May 7.
Photo: AFC