Yemen started the better of the two sides and came close in the 12th minute when Abdulwasea Al Matari struck his free-kick straight into the arms of Bahrain keeper Ebrahim Lutfalla.

Bahrain, however, regained control of the game with Yemen keeper Abdullah Al Sadi forced into action to save Abdullah Al Hashsash's header from inside the box in the 14th minute before foiling Mohamed Marhoon’s follow-up.

Yemen foiled another attempt after a pressured Marhoon failed to find the target from inside the box off Hazza Ali’s cross, angling his attempt over the bar.

Bahrain threatened again in the 38th minute with Al Hashsash seeing his header cleared off the line by Al Sadi but their perseverance paid off moments later when a poor clearance by the Yemen keeper presented Marhoon with the perfect opportunity to scramble home the opening goal from close range.

Bahrain started the second half aggressively, and it paid off with Harwan Al Zubaidi conceding an own goal in the 48th minute.

Bahrain went in search of their third goal but could not find a way through in the 65th minute with Al Sadi pulling off a double save, first denying Al Hashsash’s effort off substitute Ali Madan’s cutback before stopping Komail Al Aswad shot from distance.

Despite chasing a two-goal deficit, Yemen saw their rare chance at goal in the 67th minute go to waste when Ahmed Maher found space at the edge of the area before striking the post from a tight angle.

Al Sadi continued to frustrate Bahrain when he first denied Mohamed Hasan’s long-range effort in the 78th minute before foiling Al Aswad again three minutes later but it mattered little as they took the points.