Match report: Bahrain 2-2 Australia Tony Popovic"s reaction There are a lot of emotions now because a lot of things happened in the match. We had a couple of good chances to make it 2-0 that we didn’t capitalise on, then we gave away a couple of goals very quickly. But we showed great character to come back. [On Kusini Yengi’s performance] Yeah it was good. He’s there to score goals so getting a couple of goals… I’d have liked him to score the chance at 1-0 when the ball was cut back, because that would have been game over. But like I said, great character to come back, we didn’t drop our heads and it’s a good point. [On Hayden Matthews] He’s a young boy coming through, playing in difficult conditions here. I thought he equipped himself really well; he was unfortunate with the second goal but he’s got a bright future. [On the state of play in Group C] Everyone’s finding it hard to get consecutive results. We’ll take the point, reflect and move on to March against Indonesica. The state of play in Group C Japan P6 Pts 16 Australia P6 Pts 6 (GD +1) Indonesia P6 Pts 6 (GD -3) Saudi Arabia P6 Pts 6 (GD -3) Bahrain P5 Pts 5 (GD -5) China P6 Pts 6 (GD -10) Australia won the game, lost it and finally drew it when Kusini Yengi equalised in the 96th minute. He’d put them ahead after 38 seconds of the first half, and for the first three quarters of the game Australia looked completely untroubled. Bahrain started to threaten and equalised in extraordinary circumstances when the substitute Mahdi Abduljabbar curled extravagantly over the head of Maty Ryan from 45 yards. Abduljabbar scored again two minutes later after the otherwise flawless debutant Hayden Matthews headed against his own post, and Australia were facing another defeat to Bahrain until Yengi forced in his second goal. Full time: Bahrain 2-2 Australia So much for the Socceroos’ games being dull. 90+11 min There should be at least two more minutes of added time because of that VAR check. A winning goal now for either team would be a thing of euphoria. 90+9 min The Bahrain manager is booked for opening his face and letting words spill out. Including added time, there were 98 minutes between Yengi’s goals (even if the first should really be credited as an own-goal). 90+8 min: Goal given! There’s a VAR check! I think it’s to see whether the ball hit Borello’s hand as he fought for that header at the far post. Bahrain’s players look shattered. O’Neill flipped a deep cross from the left towards Borello. His header hit the back of a Bahrain and ran loose on the six-yard line. Yengi reacted quickest to drive the ball past Lutfallah, who then wanted a fight when Borello tried to grab the ball from the net. GOAL! Bahrain 2-2 Australia (Yengi 90+6) Kusini Yengi has equalised and now Lutfallah is trying to kick off with Borello! 90+3 min Lutfallah, who looks like quite the character, barrels out of his area to head a long ball forward out of play. 90+3 min: Chance for Australia! Geria breaks down the right and guides a careful low cross towards Hrustic on the edge of the area. His shot is slightly mishit and too close to Lutfallah, who pushes it away. A decent chance rather than a great one. 90+1 min All those injuries mean there will be 10 minutes of added time. 90 min They’re bringing on a stretcher for Baqer, so I’ll shut my mouth. I’m pretty sure it’s just cramp. He’s replaced by Vincent Ani Emmanuel, and Ahmed Nabeel comes on for Mohamed Marhoon. 89 min Sayed Baqer goes down with cramp, the same Sayed Baqer who waged war on timewasting when Bahrain were 1-0 down. 88 min Play resumes with both men okay to continue. 86 min Souttar’s not in a good way either actually. Both players are conscious and still receiving treatment. 84 min There’s a nasty clash of heads between Souttar and Benaddi at an Australia corner, and you can imagine who came off worse. There’s a bit of concern from the Bahrain players, and replays show why: Benaddi got to the ball a split-second before Souttar and took a horrible whack. 83 min A defeat wouldn’t be the end of Australia’s hopes – far from it – but it would leave them in an unimaginably vulnerable position. And, crucially, it would be another huge blow to their morale. 82 min Ten minutes ago Bahrain were bottom of the group; as it stands they’re now second and in an automatic qualification spot. 81 min: Australia substitution Brandon Borello is on for Riley McGree. 79 min Poor Hayden Matthews. He’s made such a composed debut but that one split-second misjudgement, to go for the header rather than leave it for those behind him, may have cost Australia the game. This is an astonishing twist in a game that Australia controlled for the first 70 minutes. Al Humaidan’s awkward inswinging cross from the left brushed the head of the leaping Matthews, looped over the diving Ryan and hit the inside of the far post. It deflected back onto the body of Ryan, who had just hit the turf, and fell perfectly for Abduljabbar to score with the purest glee. Amazing. GOAL! Bahrain 2-1 Australia (Abduljabbar 77) Australia’s world is crumbling around them! A routine ball forward was miscontrolled by Burgess and bounced towards Abduljabbar, 45 yards from goal. With Ryan in the libero position, aka no man’s land, Abduljabbar curled a glorious first-time shot over his head and into the net! GOAL! Bahrain 1-1 Australia (Abduljabbar 75) An outrageous equaliser from the substitute Mahdi Abduljabbar. 75 min McGree goes down after an accidental collision and needs treatment. Sayed Baqer, probably still haunted by his error for the goal, thinks McGree is timewasting and gives the referee a spectacular mouthful. He’s booked. 73 min Bahrain win a free-kick 40 yards from goal on the right wing. It’s curled in towards Mohammed Marhoon, whose clever backheader goes only a couple of yards wide of the far post. That side, Maty Ryan has his angles right and waved it past the post. A really nice effort though. 71 min Al Humaidan wins a corner on the left for Bahrain. It’s curled deep and headed away by one of the big boys. Please don’t ask me which one because the screen is small and my head is nipping. 70 min This no longer feels quite so comfortable for the Socceroos, whose defending has been more frantic in the last 10 minutes or so. The easiest way to see the game out is to score a second goal quicksmart. 68 min: Double substitution for Australia Jordy Bos and Ajdin Hrustic on, Aziz Behich and Craig Goodwin off. 66 min: Bahrain substitution Ahmed Al Sherooqi and Mahdi Abduljabbar come on for Ali Madan and Ebrahim Al Khatal. 66 min It was Cam Burgess who blocked a shot from Ebrahim Al Khatal, almost certainly saving a goal in the process. 64 min: Chance for Bahrain! At the other end, a close-range shot is blocked desperately in the six-yard box, and no I haven’t a clue which players were involved. I do know it’s the closest Bahrain have come to scoring so far. 64 min: Great chance for Yengi! From the sublime to the vaguely ridiculous, a really poor touch from Yengi that costs him what would have been a superb chance. 63 min: Double substitution for Australia Aiden O’Neill and Jason Geria replace Jackson Irvine and Lewis Miller, who both look shattered. 62 min Caceres is booked for a tactical foul. 61 min: Yengi hits the post! Australia keep the ball for a long period until McGree whips an early cross into the middle. Yengi, slightly ahead of the ball, improvises brilliantly to shoulder the ball towards goal from about eight yards. Lutfallah doesn’t move and the ball clatteers off the near post. That would have been an outrageous goal. He didn’t just let the ball hit his shoulder; he really slammed it at goal. 60 min Ryan makes his first save. Well, sort of. Al Aswad’s drive from the edge of the area was blocked at source by the outrushing Caceres (I think) and looped gently into the arms of Ryan. 59 min Bahrain are struggling to create openings, never mind chances, and their frustration is beginning to show. 57 min “I’m glad Rob Haigh brought up Hrustic,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “He’s an interesting one and not exactly your archetypal modern Socceroo: gifted technically and absolutely a match-winner, but a moments player who is frustratingly inconsistent. He offers less industry than the likes of McGree and Irvine but he can pick the lock in situations they can’t. Historically his type of player has not been preferred for Australia. Reminds me a little of Josip Skoko...” 56 min Now Miller wins a corner at the other end. Goodwin curls it in, Lutfallah doesn’t hold it and Bahrain clear. In fact I thought Lutfallah punched Miller in the eye while going for the ball. Penalties have been given for less. Then, when Miller eventually gets to his feet, Lutfallah shoves him out of the penalty area! 53 min Fine play by Miller, who reads a dangerous pass in behind the defence and gets between Al Humaidan and the ball. The result is an inevitable foul by Al Humaidan. 52 min Now Australia enjoy a decent spell of possession. They’re in no hurry, which is understandable but risky. One of my pet frustrations is seeing a team sit on a 1-0 lead, concede in the 85th minute and then search frantically for a winner. It feels like there much be a better way of managing risk when you’re 1-0 up. That said, Maty Ryan still has pristine gloves. 48 min Bahrain have started the second half with more urgency, both with and without the ball. 46 min A slip from Miller gives Bahrain a hint of an opening down their left. Al Aswad’s cross doesn’t get past the head of Souttar at the near post. 46 min Peep peep! No additional changes on either side as Bahrain get the second half under way. If it stays like this Australia will have a handy three-point cushion going into the summer break. “Has it actually been much of a game as a spectacle?” asks Rob Haigh. “Do you feel Oz are having a problem scoring goals?” No and yes. I don’t mean the first pejoratively – it’s been a strong away performance. Score early, defend in your slippers, keep the ball and try to score a second. It may come as a shock to hear I’m not a Socceroos expert, but from what I’ve seen they were never going to become the entertainers of world football. That first half performance was gently encouraging, especially the calmness, authority and – important, this – progressive passing of Matthews. Half-time reading Half time: Bahrain 0-1 Australia The Socceroos lead deservedly in Riffa. Kusini Yengi scored after 38 seconds, seizing on a wretched backpass, and Australia exerted quiet control of the game thereafter. Bahrain had a really good five-minute spell after Yengi’s goal, but apart from that… zilch. Nada. Sweet bugger all. The Bahrain keeper Ebrahim Lutfallah made a fine stop to deny Yengi a second goal. Australia didn’t create a glut of chances but they were undeniably the better team. And, crucially, they kept the ball for extended periods. The possession percentages bear that out: Bahrain 39-61 Australia. Just one more thing: Hayden Matthews might be a player. 45+3 min The last man Benaddi comes across to make a challenge on Yengi, who was galloping towards Goodwin’s flick on. Wales v Iceland – live! Rob Haigh mentioned this game earlier, and if you’re into non-blogogamy, you can follow the build up with the genius that is Scott Murray. 45 min: Bahrain substitution Mahdi Al Humaidan replaces Ali Haram in midfielder. There will be four minutes of added time. 43 min They’re calling for a stretcher that he must have done some fairly significant damage. He’s lying back, not in obvious pain, so it might be a torn calf or something. 42 min There’s a break in play while Ali Haram receives treatment; I think he jarred his leg. 40 min Miller exchanges passes with Yengi and clips an early ball towards McGree in the area. He tries to help it across goal and it’s deflected behind for another Australia corner. Lutfallah claims it well, as he has two or three times in the first half. Souttar has yet to get his abundant noggin on the ball from a corner. 38 min “So important to have Goodwin back in the team, an integral part of how the clicks,” says Rob Haigh. “Why is Hrustic on the bench though?” You can probably answer that better than me. McGree has been quite bright though and almost make a second goal for Yengi. 35 min With the caveat that they’re playing Bahrain not Brazil, I suspect Tony Popovic will be really happy with the performance so far. Australia are keeping the ball better than in any of the away games I’ve seen this year (I haven’t seen them all) and Mat Ryan has barely touched the ball. 33 min McGree’s deep cross from the right is headed over at the far post by … Miller. What’s he doing there in open play? No matter, he didn’t score. It was a tough chance, about a 0.05 on the old xG I would estimate. 31 min Classy play again from Matthews, who walks confidently out of defence and slides a crisp pass up to Yengi on the halfway line. He’s taken out by Benaddi to give Australia a free-kick. 30 min Bahrain’s win in Australia was their only victory so far in this group. They managed a creditable goalless draw away to Saudi Arabia and needed a 99th-minute equaliser at home to Indonesia. 29 min Goodwin gets to the byline on the right and stands up a nice cross that is just too high for Irvine at the far post. He gets under the ball and can only head it up in the air. 28 min “Popovic will absolutely lock things down and build from a ‘strong base’ to start,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “This is how he won the ACL with Western Sydney Wanderers and he’ll use the template again in Asia. I’m actually stunned that he went with Yengi over Duke, which amounts to a ‘positive’ move, all things considered...and Yengi’s mobility earned a priceless opener...can’t imagine Duke doing the same?” Picking Matthews is a helluva call as well, even if des look the part. Yengi was a sensible pick, particularly as Bahrain play a very high line. 26 min Maty Ryan hasn’t yet had a save to make, a reflection of a secure defensive performance from Australia. At the other Ebrahim Lutfallah has saved one and scored one. 24 min: Chance for Yengi! Australia almost make it 2-0 on the break. McGree, in the inside-left channel, had a two v one and angled a pass into the area for Yengi. Benaddi was really well positioned, which meant McGree had to overhit the pass slightly for it to reach Yengi. That allowed Lutfallah to come off his line and smother Yengi’s shot. That’s a pretty good save. 22 min That was definitely an own-goal by Lutfallah by the way. At the moment it has been credited to Yengi but his shot wasn’t on target. Lutfallah, assuming it would be, dived desperately and ended up pushing the ball into his own net. 21 min Miller gallops down the right and whips a really dangerous cross that is put behind by the stretching Benaddi. Yengi was waiting behind him and would have had a great chance. 20 min Australia remain pretty comfortable with their 1-0 lead. They’re not in complete control – that’s reserved for Pep Guardiola’s teams – but they’re keeping the ball well enough and have not allowed Bahrain to generate any sustained momentum. 18 min “Rob, frankly speaking,” begins Rob Haigh, which is usually an ominous opening to an email. “I’m in Leeds, Yorkshire and I’m waiting for Wales v Iceland to kick-off in just over an hour so can the ‘Men At Work’ do us a big favour and provide some scintillating entertainment up here in the Northern Hemisphere do you think?” As a neutral I wouldn’t say they’re associated with scintillating entertainment, but then nor were the England cricket team for about 100 years. Anything’s possible! 16 min Lewis Miller makes an important lunging tackle just outside the area, I think on Mohamed Marhoon. Had he missed that Marhoon would have been in. 15 min A better spell of ball retention from Australia. Nothing penetrative, but it beats gathering on the edge of your penalty area for 90 minutes. Hayden Matthews hasn’t had much to do but he looks composed. As I type he slides a really nice pass between the lines to find McGree. He tries to release Yengi, who is flagged offside. That was good from Matthews. Incidentally, the cricket fans among you will hopefully understand when I inevitable type Hayley Mattews instead of Hayden at some stage. 11 min It was Hayden Matthews, 30-odd seconds into his debut, who played the speculative pass forward that led to the goal. Sayed Dhiya missed it – he should probably have done better as well – and then Hamad Al Shamsan had a costly split-second brainfreeze. 10 min Australia’s greatest strength is probably defending in a low block. The early goal has allowed to exactly that. It’s not without risk – you can score too early in games – but for now they are keeping Bahrain at arm’s length. 7 min It looks like the goal has been given to Yengi, though I’d like to see another replay. Either way it’s a perfect start for him, especially after his red card in the return fixture. 6 min Bahrain have responded well to the shock of that early goal, playing some bright possession football and winning a corner that leads to a couple of headed clearance by either Souttar, Burgess or both. 5 min “I like that you’ve managed to slip in/on some Spandex references at 5am,” says Chris Paraskevas. “Have you been watching the ‘Original’ Batman & Robin? (1997...the one with Arnie as Mr. Freeze) “I like Tony Popovic’s tactical solution after the goalless draw with N̶e̶w̶c̶a̶s̶t̶l̶e̶ ̶U̶n̶i̶t̶e̶d̶ Saudi Arabia: changing the goalkeeper (because apparently ‘keepers are modern football’s new libero). Sometimes I wish for simpler times i.e. 1997 and George Clooney as Batman.” This will reveal me as a despicable human being but the last Batman film I watched was the 1989 one with Michael Keaton and Kim Basinger. Enjoyed The Penguin though, especially the pitch-black comedy. 2 min My word, what a start. The defending was terrible from Bahrain. In fact, Baqer’s errant backpass may have been their first touch of the entire match. It was a shambles of a goal, not that Australia will care. The right wing-back Sayid Mahdi Baqer played a dreadful backpass, badly underhit, and Yengi was in. He walked round the keeper Lutfallah and reversed a shot that the diving Lutfallah could only push into his own net. That might be an own goal you know; I’m not certain Yengi’s shot was on target. GOAL! Bahrain 0-1 Australia (Yengi 1) Kusini Yengi scores after 38 seconds! 1 min Peep peep! We’re off, and already… The two teams take the field on a sultry night in Riffa. Let’s have a quick reminder of the teams, not least because there’s been a change. Abbas Al Asfoor was injured in the warm-up and has been replaced in midfield by Abdulla Al Khalasi. Bahrain (possible 3-4-2-1) Lutfallah; Benaddi, Al Shamsan, Dhiya; Mahdi Baqer, Al Khalasi, Haram, Marhoon; Al Khatal, Al Aswad; Madan. Substitutes: Mohamed, Ani Emmanuel, Nabeel, Adbulkarim, Al Wadaei, Abduljabbar, Atede, Hazaa Ali, Al Sherooqi, Al Humaidan, Jaafar. Australia (3-4-2-1) Ryan; Matthews, Souttar, Burgess; Miller, Caceres, Irvine, Behich; Goodwin, McGree; Yengi. Substitutes: Degenek, Grant, Bos, Boyle, Geria, Hrustic, Borrello, O’Neill, Izzo, Duke, Gauci, Balard. Referee Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea) Fifteen minutes to kick off Sorry for the silence – there was an issue with the live feed over here in the UK but I think it’s almost sorted. If not I’ll just make the whole nothing up. Anyone fancy a 5-0 win? Read Joey Lynch’s preview Time and time again, Australia’s men have threatened to fall off the pace, only for results elsewhere to throw them a lifeline. Just last week, Bahrain had the opportunity to vault over Australia and Saudi Arabia into outright second place, only for a 91st-minute winner from China to consign them to defeat in Riffa. That goal saw China, who are the only side in the group to lose three games but who also sit alongside Japan as the only team to win multiple times, move on to six points. The teams in full Bahrain (possible 3-4-2-1) Lutfallah; Benaddi, Al Shamsan, Dhiya; Mahdi Baqer, Al Asfoor, Haram, Marhoon; Al Khatal, Al Aswad; Madan. Substitutes: Mohamed, Ani Emmanuel, Nabeel, Adbulkarim, Al Wadaei, Abduljabbar, Atede, Hazaa Ali, Al Sherooqi, Al Humaidan, Jaafar, Al Khalasi. Australia (3-4-2-1) Ryan; Matthews, Souttar, Burgess; Miller, Caceres, Irvine, Behich; Goodwin, McGree; Yengi. Substitutes: Degenek, Grant, Bos, Boyle, Geria, Hrustic, Borrello, O’Neill, Izzo, Duke, Gauci, Balard. Referee Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea) Team news: Matthews makes Socceroos debut Blimey. The 20-year-old Sydney FC defender Hayden Matthews will make his debut in defence for the Socceroos, the continuation of his amazing rise in 2024. That’s one of six changes from the disappointing 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. Matthews, Maty Ryan, Anthony Caceres, Craig Goodwin, Kusini Yengi and Aziz Behich replace Joe Gauci, Jason Geria, Ajdin Hrustic, Jordy Bos, Aiden O’Neill and Mitch Duke. Caceres, 32, is also making his full debut, having come off the bench against Saudi Arabia. We’ll have the full XIs in a second. Preamble In 2022 Australia were among the 16 best teams in world football. Two years on they’re scrapping to be amongst the best 48. Qualification for the 2026 World Cup felt like a formality for the Socceroos, particularly when Fifa fattened the competition by an extra 50 per cent. Instead it has turned into a rare old dogfight. Australia play Bahrain this morning – well done on not snoozing the alarm by the way – at the Bahrain National Stadium, knowing that a second defeat to Dragan Talajic’s side is unthinkable. The other two games in Group C were played last night/in the early hours. Japan won 3-1 in China to move 10 points clear and all but ensure qualification, while Indonesia stunned Saudi Arabia with a 2-0 win in Jakarta. On balance that’s probably a good result for the Socceroos, but it means the race for the final automatic qualification spot is Spandex-tight. Somebody-call-a-doctor-Spandex-tight. Japan P6 Pts 16 Australia P5 Pts 6 (GD +1) Indonesia P6 Pts 6 (GD -3) Saudi Arabia P6 Pts 6 (GD -3) China P6 Pts 6 (GD -10) Bahrain P5 Pts 5 (GD -5) Confused? The same. This morning’s game could make things a bit clearer. A win for the Socceroos would make them strongish favourites to finish second, especially as Japan still have home games to play against Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. But Defeat would mean four months of fear and soul-searching before the group resumes in March. Kick off 5.15am AEDT, 6.15pm local time.