KUALA LUMPUR: Kusini Yengi’s stoppage-time goal saved Australia from a calamitous defeat by Bahrain in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday but the Socceroos will be smarting over another blown chance to steal a march on Asian rivals on the road to 2026.

The 2-2 draw in Riffa left Australia second in Asia’s Group ‘C’ on seven points, nine behind runaway leaders Japan and one ahead of Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China.

The top two teams at the end of the phase advance directly to the World Cup in North America, while the third and fourth-placed sides advance to another round.

Having missed a slew of chances in the 0-0 draw at home to Saudi Arabia last Thursday, Australia’s profligacy continued in Riffa, leaving coach Tony Popovic plenty to ponder before the next home qualifier against Indonesia in March.

“We would have liked to have won the game against Saudi or here tonight, which would have put us in a much better position,” said Popovic. “But we’re second in the table — very different from where we were four games ago — and we have to look forward.

“Apart from Japan everyone is taking points off each other and tonight was evidence of that again. We put ourselves in a very good position at half time to win the match but missed a very good opportunity before their goal to go 2-0 up, and this is the story of the group.”

Popovic’s side took the lead after just 38 seconds through Yengi, only for Mahdi Abduljabbar to hit back in the 75th and 77th minutes — the first from 40 yards — to put Bahrain 2-1 ahead.

Portsmouth striker Yengi ultimately managed to salvage a point in the 96th minute by scoring from a fortuitous rebound following a goalmouth scramble.

In Group A, the United Arab Emirates thrashed Qatar 5-0 with Brazil-born striker Fabio Lima scoring four, including two from the penalty spot, as Paulo Bento’s team took sole possession of third place behind Iran and Uzbekistan.

UAE remain three points from second, while Qatar stay fourth, six points off the automatic qualification spots.

In Group B, Iraq occupy second place on 11 points — three behind leaders South Korea — following a 1-0 victory against Oman in Muscat thanks to Youssef Amyn’s 36th-minute goal.

Jordan’s 1-1 draw at Kuwait leaves them two points back, in third. Oman sit fourth, on six points, with Kuwait on four and Palestine on three.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2024