A ten-man Socceroos outfit has suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain on the Gold Coast in a disastrous setback to their hopes of direct World Cup qualification.
Striker Kusini Yengi was red-carded for a excessive problem, then the Socceroos had been red-faced by an 89th-minute personal aim in opposition to the run of play as Bahrain pissed off their solution to a maiden win over Australia.
The loss, within the facet’s first recreation on the Gold Coast, is an enormous setback to start the third spherical of qualifying that continues in Jakarta in opposition to Indonesia on Tuesday.
Solely the highest two sides in a pool that additionally contains China, Japan and Saudi Arabia will earn course qualification to the 2026 showpiece.
Australia loved 70 per cent of possession and — within the second half significantly — camped in Bahrain’s half, trying to select up the tempo after a lacklustre first 45 minutes produced few highlights.
Mohamed Marhoon (left) was theatrical after Alessandro Circati (proper) gained a header. (AAP: Dave Hunt)
They made greater than double the quantity of passes than their rivals, however these efforts solely yielded 4 photographs on track and barely troubled goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla as a pissed off Socceroos outfit slowly misplaced endurance.
Issues threatened to unravel in a remaining 20 minutes with artful Bahrain winger Mohamed Marhoon happening within the nook and incomes Alessandro Circati a yellow card, regardless of replays suggesting an absence of contact.
Marhoon was theatrical once more moments later, falling to the bottom after Circati gained a header.
Fullback Harry Souttar was then booked for a excessive problem and Yengi earned a straight pink after 80 minutes when his boot caught the neck of Sayed Baqer as he contested a free ball.
Yengi had a forgettable evening, got rid of the ball early within the contest then scuffled a deflection from Craig Goodwin’s laser-like cross approaching halftime.
A ten-man Socceroos outfit has suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain on the Gold Coast. (AAP: Dave Hunt)
Not even the injection of Bayern Munich pleasure machine Nestory Irankunda after 57 minutes may spark one thing.
Beginning on the suitable, he confirmed sprint to earn an early free kick then had a shot blocked and shot saved after transferring to the left on the introduction of substitute Awer Mabil.
Bahrain strung out their time on the ball trying to run out the clock, but it surely was the guests who struck first with Abdulla Alkhalasi’s cross deflecting off Souttar and beating Mat Ryan on his close to put up.
Solely six minutes of damage time had been awarded, however the Socceroos missed a golden likelihood to equalise. Mitchell Duke’s open header blazed throughout the face of aim.
A pitch invader then capped off the chaos — Australia’s remaining foray ending in a limp turnover earlier than the full-time whistle sparked wild scenes from Bahrain’s bench.
AAP
