Bahrain overcome Indian resistance

SHARJAH, JAN 14 - A 91st minute penalty goal by Jamal Rashed helped Bahrain post an important win against India in a Group A match of the Asian Cup 2019 at the Sharjah Stadium late on Monday.
Bahrain, with four points, are most likely to take the last 16 spot for the best four third-placed teams among the groups.
Bahrain finished third in the group after Thailand held hosts UAE 1-1 in another Group A match in Al Ain. The UAE topped the group with five points. Thailand and Bahrain finished with four points but the Thais took second on better goal difference.
India are out of the tournament with three points. India took full points from their first match after beating Thailand 4-1.
The match started with Indian defender Anas Edathodika feeling unwell and was replaced by another defender Salam Ranjan Singh in the third minute.
Needing to win the match with only one point in their kitty, Bahrain started attacking from early on.
In the fifth minute, India’s lanky goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a good save after a strong shot by midfielder Komail Hasan Alaswad. The rebound came to Jamal Rashed Abdulrahman who shot it wide.
In the coming minutes, Bahraini forward Mohammed Saad al Romaihi and Jamal Rashed often went into the off-side trap kept by the Indian defence.
In the 21st minute, India got their first corner but of no avail.
Three minutes later, the Blue Tigers could not also utilise a free kick outside the Bahraini penalty box.
India got the free kick after defender Subhasish Bose was fouled by Ali Jaafar Madan.
Bahrain got their first corner in the 30th minute.
Ten minutes later, Bahrain got another corner after a dangerous move by Mohammed Saad al Romaihi was warded off by Subhasish.
Goalkeeper Sandhu was upto the task for the Indians on many occasions including corner kicks when he grabbed the ball with his good reach.
Bahrain got a corner just before the half-time and Komail Hasan was offside in the resultant move.
In the second half, India brought in striker Jeje Lalpekhlua for off-colour midfielder Muhammed Ashique Kuruniyan.
Bahrain kept the ball possession in the second half too with India looking for counter-attacks.
In the 55th minute, Bahrain coach Miroslav Soukup replaced Ali Jaafar Madan with Mohammed Jasim Marhoon in search of a goal.
India survived a close shave in the 59th minute after the Bahraini forwards failed to latch on to a good cross into the middle of the box.
In the 71st minute, Bahrain’s substitute Abdullah Yusuf Helal missed the target by a short distance.
Next up, Bahrain won a free kick right in front of Indian penalty box.
Jamal Rashid’s left-footed shot was well blocked by the onrushing Indian defenders.
Sami al Husaini replaced Ahmed Ali Juma next for Bahrain.
In the 78th minute, Bahrain made a nice move but Abdullah Helal Yusuf’s effort was saved by Indian custodian Sandhu.
Indian coach Stephen Constantine brought in Anirudh Thapa for Halicharan Narzary in the next minute.
In the 84th minute, Bahrain intensified pressure and had four corners on a trot.
Goalkeeper Sandhu’s timely hand kept the ball away from a waiting Bahraini player to avoid any danger in the first corner.
Indian defence under the watchful Sandesh Jingan kept further Bahraini attempts at bay.
The moment of the match came in the first minute of added time when Pronay Holder brought down Hamed al Shamsan inside the box and referee pointed to the spot. Rashed made no mistake to seal the key goal as Gurpreet Singh went the wrong way.