In a surprising start to the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying, Bahrain secured a 1-0 victory over Australia on the Gold Coast. Despite having lost all six previous encounters with the Socceroos, Bahrain capitalized on a crucial mistake from Australian defender Harry Souttar. In the 89th minute, Abdulla Al-Khalasi’s cross deflected off Souttar and past goalkeeper Mat Ryan, securing a dramatic win for Bahrain.
Australia’s Dominance Marred by Red Card
Australia, which controlled much of the game, faced a setback when Kusini Yengi was red-carded in the 77th minute for a reckless tackle. This disruption thwarted Australia’s efforts to equalize. Despite the defeat, Australian winger Craig Goodwin remained optimistic, stating, “It’s not the way we want to start our campaign, but there are nine games to go.”
In Group C, Japan delivered a dominant performance with a 7-0 thrashing of China in Saitama. Goals from Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma gave Japan an early lead, followed by quick strikes from Takumi Minamino, and additional goals from Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda, and Takefusa Kubo.
Saudi Arabia was held to a 1-1 draw by Indonesia in Jeddah. Ragnar Oratmangoen scored for Indonesia, while Musab Al-Juwayr equalized for Saudi Arabia before halftime. A missed penalty by Salem Al-Dawsari late in the match contributed to the draw.
South Korea’s Group B match ended in a 0-0 draw against a resilient Palestinian side in Seoul. Despite several missed chances, including a near-miss by captain Son Heung-min, South Korea couldn’t find a breakthrough. The Palestinians nearly stole the win with a late chance saved by Jo Hyun-woo.
In other matches, Iraq won 1-0 against Oman, Jordan drew 1-1 with Kuwait, Iran edged Kyrgyzstan 1-0, and Uzbekistan won 1-0 against North Korea. The UAE topped Group A with a 3-1 victory over Qatar. The top two teams from each group will advance to the 2026 World Cup, while third and fourth-place teams will vie for additional spots in a fourth round.