The first big chance fell to Bahrain, with Bangladesh keeper Anisur Rahman having to pull off a diving save to keep Amine Benadi’s header out after the full-back rose highest to meet a corner, with Bahrain pressing hard for an opener in the first 15 minutes.

Rahman was forced into another save after Bishwanath Ghosh fouled Komail Al Aswad just outside the area, with Al Aswad taking the resulting free-kick which took a slight deflection before being held by Rahman. A third save came less than a minute later when Ali Haram smashed the ball goalwards from outside the area but Bangladesh’s number one punched it away.

Haram had another chance to score from Al Aswad’s looped free-kick into the area, but once again Rahman was well positioned to hold the ball and he initiated a counterattack, with the lightning move ending with Jamal Bhuyan firing wide of the target. 

The opener eventually came in the 33rd minute when Al Aswad swung in a corner which Haram jumped to head past Rahman, who was caught out standing at the far post. 

The lead was doubled eight minutes later after Rakib Hossein’s headed clearance didn’t go the distance, an onrushing Al Aswad ran from outside the area and took the shot first time with the ball traveling low between a forest of legs and landed in the net. 

Bahrain missed a golden chance to go three goals to the good early in the second half when the lively Al Aswad played Abdulla Yusuf through on goal with only the keeper to beat, but the Slovan Liberic striker took a weak shot that Rahman was able to comfortably save. 

Bahrain face hosts Malaysia on Saturday, while Bangladesh take on Turkmenistan on the same day in the early kick off.