AFC Asian Qualifiers
Both teams had already booked their place in the next round prior to the game, with the UAE confirmed to top the group with five wins from their previous five, and Bahrain finishing second.
A thrilling start to the game saw both sides find the back of the net inside the opening ten minutes.
The visitors wasted no time getting the action underway and were in front within four minutes. UAE-based Ali Madan drove through the Emirati midfield before supplying a lovely through pass for Mahdi Abduljabbar who opened his body and aimed for the bottom corner to slot home beyond the reach of goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.
The visitors wasted no time getting the action underway and were in front within four minutes. UAE-based Ali Madan drove through the Emirati midfield before supplying a lovely through pass for Mahdi Abduljabbar who opened his body and aimed for the bottom corner to slot home beyond the reach of goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.
Coach Paulo Bento’s men promptly responded to restore parity. Centre-back Mohammed Al Attas showed his range of passing, sending a 60-yards pass along the ground to send Sultan Adil through on the Bahraini goal, and the young forward kept his composure to find the back of the net with a well-taken finish in the tenth minute.
Adil follows in the footsteps of his father Adil Mohammed who scored twice in a 2-1 win against the same opponents 27 years ago in the France 1998 World Cup qualifiers.
Adil follows in the footsteps of his father Adil Mohammed who scored twice in a 2-1 win against the same opponents 27 years ago in the France 1998 World Cup qualifiers.
The home crowd thought their side had turned the result around midway through the first half when Tahnoon Al Zaabi produced a fine pass to find Yahya Al Ghassani. The Shabab Al Ahli man looked to chip the Bahraini goalkeeper, but miscued his attempt, sending it just wide.
Bahrain dominated the early proceedings after the restart with Madan seeing two shots from the edge of the area blocked by Majid Rashid and Sayed Baqer heading into the crossbar to the relief of the Emiratis.
Bahrain dominated the early proceedings after the restart with Madan seeing two shots from the edge of the area blocked by Majid Rashid and Sayed Baqer heading into the crossbar to the relief of the Emiratis.
Goalkeeper Ibrahim Lutfallah had to be fully focused to deny substitute Harib Suhail who looked to make an instant impact, firing on the turn from the edge of the box. At the other end, Eisa showed his own goalkeeping abilities to parry Abduljabbar’s spectacular half-volley just minutes later.
With players noticeably struggling with the hot and humid Dubai summer, fatigue set-in in the remainder of the second half, with chances few and far between. Eventually, they each settled for a point to end their campaign on a fairly positive note.
With players noticeably struggling with the hot and humid Dubai summer, fatigue set-in in the remainder of the second half, with chances few and far between. Eventually, they each settled for a point to end their campaign on a fairly positive note.
