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January 20 – An Ali Madan goal in added time allowed Bahrain to snatch a 1-0 win over Malaysia and keep their hopes alive of reaching the last 16 of the Asian Cup alive.
It was heartbreak for the Malaysian fans who saw their team comfortably keep Bahrain out for 90 minutes before conceding a goal that diving keeper Syihan Hazmi should have got a stronger hand to.
Malaysia now can’t progress and still have to face a South Korean team needing a win and a lot of goals to take top spot in the group. Malaysia could have a very uncomfortable last group game on today’s performance.
Bahrain on the other hand have put themselves firmly in the mix of qualification to the last 16, either automatically if they beat Jordan, or as one of the four best third placed group teams.
Malaysia head coach Kim Pan-gon restructured his defense after the 4-0 hammering by Jordan in their first group. It almost worked.
Bahrain started on the front foot but the Malaysians absorbed the Bahraini possession and created chances on the counter.
Corbin Ong ‘s long throw-in eventually found Dion Cools who couldn’t get his shot on target. Arif Aiman missed two good chances.
Bahrain could have the lead in the 31st minute after Komail Al Aswad drove into the box only to see his shot scrambled off the line by a Malaysian defender.
With the scores level at half time the game looked tailor made fro Malaysia to become more expansive in the second half and go for a win. They didn’t and ultimately the lack of attacking ambition was their downfall.
Malaysia continued to sit back defensively with two well drilled banks of five and four keeping Bahrain at arm’s length, their only threat being a pacey counterattack.
In the 60th minite Bahrain’s Abdulla Yusef should have scopred. Unmarked in the centre of goal, he sent his header wide.
The Bahrain bench urged their team to calm down and show more composure in the final third as their final ball into the danger area looked…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/01/20/added-time-strike-keeps-bahrain-hopes-alive-ends-malaysias-campaign/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-01-20 12:59:23
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