Asian Cup 2015: Bahrain defeat Qatar 2-1 as both teams exit Group C

QATAR arrived with high hopes, but a 2-1 loss to Bahrain saw them tumble out of the Asian Cup without a point to their name.

Sayed Dhiya (C) of Bahrain celebrates his goal against Qatar with teammate Abdulwahab Al Malood during their Group C football match at the AFC Asian Cup in Sydney on January 19, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

QATAR arrived with high hopes, but a 2-1 loss to Bahrain saw them tumble out of the Asian Cup without a point to their name.

Stayed Jaafar’s 82nd minute winner at a soggy Stadium Australia ensured Bahrain will at least exit the tournament with some degree of pride.

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Stayed Dhiya opened the scoring for Bahrain.

There was a fair amount of expectation on Qatar, who are the Gulf Cup champions and have the richest club competition in the East. But they will return home with three defeats, having scored just two goals in the tournament.

Qatar dominated possession in the first half and had the better opportunities to score, but went into the break with nothing to show for it.

Mohammed Muntari was left to rue a number of missed chances.

Al Haydos and Mohammed Muntari in particular caused Bahrain all sorts of problems. Muntari hit the woodwork before Al Haydos had his effort cleared off the line, then Hamad Al Doseri pulled off an excellent save to keep Boalem Khoukhi out.

Yet it was Bahrain who snatched the lead in the 35th minute, when Sayed Shubbar managed to squeeze the ball through a crowded penalty area and into the back of the net.

Qatar came out firing at the start of the second half, but it would take some time before they got their reward.

Tempers flared, tackles flew in, Qatar continued to push for the equaliser, and for a while it didn’t seem like coming. But a clever 68th-minute free-kick from Al Haydos finally paid dividends. His shot went under the jumping wall, leaving Al Doseri stranded.

Muntari butchered countless chances to take the lead and Qatar were made to pay for them when a speculative effort from Jaafar sailed into the back of the net.

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Bahrain defeat Qatar 2-1 as both teams exit Group C