Bahrain secured their place in the final round after winning against Turkmenistan 1-0 in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers 3rd round Group E at Bukit Jalil national stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
Turkmenistan threatened early on through captain Arslanmyrat Amanov, who had previously missed the target with a shot but this time came a lot closer after cutting inside from the left flank and letting a low drive from outside the area that scraped Sayed Jafaar’s far post on its way out.
Bahrain replied in kind with Mammet Orazmuhammedov being forced into quick consecutive saves, with Ali Haram, Abdulla Yusuf and Abdulwahab Al Malood all shooting within a span of 30 seconds but the Turkmen keeper eventually parried out for a corner from the latter.
Yazguly Hojagelyev’s men survived a further scare when Bahrain pressed hard 15 minutes in, this time with Orazmuhammedov saving from Haram again but Ali Madan gathered the rebound inside the area and dribbled goalwards and took a shot that hit the side netting.
Orazmuhammedov conceded a penalty in the 23rd minute when he fouled Madan who was dribbling his way into the area, with Yusuf opting to go low to the right and the keeper going the other way as the scoring was opened.
Madan missed a golden chance at the hour mark to take Helio Sousa’s men further ahead, when a Bahraini ball into the area was headed down to him by mistake by Resul Hojayev, and Madan took a half-volley but it was saved by Orazmuhammedov.
Another close chance for Bahrain was denied by Orazmuhammedov when Yusuf played Mohammed Marhoon into the area. Presented with a tight angle to shoot from, Marhoon left footed it towards the keeper who punched it out for a corner to keep his side in it.
As the game wore on, both sides missed chances with Marhoon coming closest to doubling the lead for Bahrain late on when he took his chances with a shot from far out, but Orazmuhammedov again saved.
The win meant Bahrain topped the group with a full mark of nine points, while Turkmenistan only have three from a win against Bangladesh which was not enough to earn them a runners-up position.
Credit Photo : FAM
