Bahrain were three minutes away from securing full points against Iraq on Saturday, with Isa and Marhoon having given them a 2-1 lead only for Mohammed Qasim to head home the equaliser in added time. 

It was a massive blow to Bahrain’s hopes of knockout stage action, having lost 5-0 to Thailand on Matchday One, but neither player is giving up hope.

Mohamed Qasim rescued his side for the second game in a row as he came off the bench to score an added time equaliser to ensure the Iraqis go into their final game against Thailand on Tuesday knowing a win over the hosts will take them through to the quarter-finals.

Qasim had netted against Australia in Iraq’s opening game to secure a draw and he did the same again – but in more dramatic fashion – when he denied Bahrain all three points with an injury time header at Thammasat Stadium.

Mohamed Marhoon looked to have secured Bahrain the win when he put Bahrain in front for the second time in the game three minutes from time with a diving header as the game exploded into life in the dying minutes.

Two goals from Suphanat Mueanta provided the platform for success on a night when both the Buriram United ace and Thailand shone brightly from start to finish against a Bahrain outfit which, in truth, created few genuine opportunities.

The result leaves Akira Nishino’s charges two points clear at the summit following Iraq’s 1-1 draw with Australia earlier in the day and adds genuine momentum to their bid to reach the competition’s knockout phase for the first time in three attempts.

Perth Glory striker Nicholas D'Agostino was on hand to score either side of half-time as Australia followed up their opening day draw against Iraq with a priceless three-point haul that has moved them to the top of the Group A standings.

Nicholas D'Agostino scored either side of the break to secure his side’s victory, one that, coupled with Bahrain’s draw with Iraq earlier in the day, leaves Australia leading the way in Group A and needing only a draw against the Bahrainis on Matchday Three to guarantee their place in the last eight.

The result, meanwhile, saw Thailand drop to second with Akira Nishino's charges now requiring a point from Tuesday's encounter with Iraq to advance.

Australia, who had played to a 1-1 draw with Iraq on Matchday One, found themselves trailing to Anon Amornlerdsak’s 24th minute strike but displayed great determination to bounce back with goals from D’Agostino in the 43rd and 76th minutes.

The win was achieved in front of 22,000 Thailand fans at the Rajamangala Stadium and took Australia to pole position in Group A.