Touted as the top favourites of the third edition of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup, Bahrain’s start to the tournament failed to meet expectations as they kicked off their campaign with a goalless draw against unfancied Singapore at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The stalemate kept alive Singapore’s hopes of progressing to the semifinals as one of two sides from Group B. Thailand are leading the group with three points having beaten Singapore last Friday while Bahrain and Singapore have one point apiece.
Thailand will lock horns with Bahrain in the final Group B match tomorrow at Bangabandhu National Stadium to decide the fate of the group. A draw or a win for Bahrain will be enough for them to qualify for the last four while a Thai victory will take Singapore through at the expense of Bahrain. The Thais, meanwhile, are already assured of a semifinal berth.
Thailand’s progression was confirmed yesterday through the dull affair between Bahrain and Singapore. That Singapore are still alive in the tournament is largely down to the heroics of their centre-back, R Aaravin, who was arguably the man-of-the-match yesterday.
The first half produced just three goal-mouth moments with two belonging to Bahrain. Six minutes into the game, an Abdulla Alshaikh corner was connected well by Hazza Ateeq Mubarak but the ball flew inches over the bar. Bahrain’s second foray inside the Singaporean terrain came in the 42nd minute when winger Marhoon, receiving a pass from Jasim Abdulla, dribbled past two opposition defenders only to denied by a superb tackle from Aaravin.
Singapore’s only attempt at goal arrived in the 10th minute but Taufik Suparno’s chip did not trouble Bahrain custodian Mahbob Yahya.
Singapore though made a brighter start in the second half through right-back Azienuddin bin Khaire, who created a great chance for Suparno. Suparno, however, lost his bearing to the relief of the Bahrain backline.
Bahrain dominated the rest of the game and were it not for Aaravin, they would have surely sealed the three points.
In the 74th minute, Marhoon unleashed a fierce strike which evaded the Singapore goalkeeper. Aaravin though cleared it off the goalline.
Aaravin’s piece de resistance was reserved for the final moments of the game. During a goal-mouth melee, Aaravin denied a rebound shot from Ali Almalood, much to the relief of the Singapore dugout.
