Australia scrapped out a 2-0 win over Bahrain in their final tune-up before their Asian Cup campaign. A week before the Socceroos’ opening group match against India, Graham Arnold’s team took the lead via an own goal from Amine Benaddi in the 35th minute before Mitch Duke added another in the 61st minute. Winger Craig Goodwin had a hand in both goals in the friendly at the Baniyas Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The difficult nature of the victory, as Australia dominated possession but had just seven shots and struggled to create clearcut chances, offered little relief over concerns that they may find it hard to break down deep-lying defences in the Qatar tournament. As expected, Bahrain sat deep and it largely worked, against a changed Socceroos side, who had goalkeeper Mat Ryan – who has a cheekbone injury – among their absentees. And despite having 62 per cent of first-half possession, Australia could only manufacture two shots to Bahrain’s three in the opening 45 minutes. Australia’s first good chance arrived in the 20th minute when Connor Metcalfe shot straight at Bahrain’s goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla. Goodwin then ought to have given Australia the lead just after the half-hour when he cut on to his right foot, but he sprayed it wide. But the Socceroos struck four minutes later, Goodwin’s tantalising ball across the six-yard box proving too dangerous for Benaddi to ignore, as he turned his attempted clearance into his own net. In the 44th minute, Duke attempted to bicycle-kick home an awkward bouncing ball but instead powered it into the ground and off target. Bahrain were arguably unlucky when they unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty after the ball hit Aiden O’Neill’s arm in the 59th minute, and there was no VAR to overturn the referee’s decision. Two minutes later, Australia doubled their lead as Gethin Jones burst forward then passed back to O’Neill, who launched the ball towards the back post. Goodwin headed the ball across goal for a diving Duke to nod home. Riley McGree returned in the 63rd minute and Kye Rowles headed his first corner over the bar barely two minutes later. Shortly after, young stand-in goalkeeper Joe Gauci was called into action to make a sharp save at his near post to deny Abdulla Al Khalasi. The Socceroos closed the game out from there.