World Cup Qualifiers 2024 as it happened: Last-gasp goal saves Socceroos’ blushes in Bahrain

Australia have held on to the second automatic qualifying place in their 2026 World Cup group, drawing 2-2 in Bahrain after a dramatic finale.

Having taken the lead after 38 seconds through Kusini Yengi the Socceroos should have been safe before conceding two goals in 140 seconds late in the match.

Soon after the hour-mark Yengi hit the post with a clever piece of improvisation, but then missed a sitter. Ten minutes later Mahdi Abduljabbar seized on a mistake by Cameron Burgess to score with an outrageous 45-yard chip.

The Socceroos applaud the crowd at full-time.Credit: Getty Images

As Australia reeled the substitute scored again, following up after debutant Hayden Matthews’ misdirected clearing header had hit the post.

But with ten minutes of added time to be played the Socceroos kept pushing and in the 95th Yengi struck again, stabbing home in a scramble after Brandon Borello had caused problems at the back post.

The result means Australia only took partial advantage of helpful results earlier in the day in Group C.

Japan won 3-1 in China while in Jakarta unfancied Indonesia beat Saudi Arabia 2-0. That meant Australia went into the match still in the second and the last automatic qualifying place behind runaway pacesetters Japan.

The draw in Riffa means they stay there, a point ahead of the other four teams in the group. With four games left the Socceroos could yet qualify directly, be forced into a further qualifying stage or finish in the bottom two and be knocked out altogether.

That’ll be it for our live coverage of … well, whatever that was from the Socceroos.

Should have won. Created enough chances to win. Didn’t convert. Paid for it. Scrapped something late. A tale as old as time.

Stay tuned for more from us today - the great Paul Zalunardo is bashing out some fair and reasonable player ratings, while I’m going to go and get yet another coffee and try to wrap my brain around it all and turn those thoughts into some form of analysis.

Thanks for being with us this morning.

Australia have held on to the second automatic qualifying place in their 2026 World Cup group, drawing 2-2 in Bahrain after a dramatic finale.

Having taken the lead after 38 seconds through Kusini Yengi the Socceroos should have been safe before conceding two goals in 140 seconds late in the match.

Soon after the hour-mark Yengi hit the post with a clever piece of improvisation, but then missed a sitter. Ten minutes later Mahdi Abduljabbar seized on a mistake by Cameron Burgess to score with an outrageous 45-yard chip.

The Socceroos applaud the crowd at full-time.Credit: Getty Images

As Australia reeled the substitute scored again, following up after debutant Hayden Matthews’ misdirected clearing header had hit the post.

But with ten minutes of added time to be played the Socceroos kept pushing and in the 95th Yengi struck again, stabbing home in a scramble after Brandon Borello had caused problems at the back post.

The result means Australia only took partial advantage of helpful results earlier in the day in Group C.

Japan won 3-1 in China while in Jakarta unfancied Indonesia beat Saudi Arabia 2-0. That meant Australia went into the match still in the second and the last automatic qualifying place behind runaway pacesetters Japan.

The draw in Riffa means they stay there, a point ahead of the other four teams in the group. With four games left the Socceroos could yet qualify directly, be forced into a further qualifying stage or finish in the bottom two and be knocked out altogether.

That’s the last game of the year for the Socceroos. They don’t play again until March 20, 2025, when they host Indonesia, venue TBC. Then, five days later, they play away to China.

It’s been said before, but believe us this time they must win those two games to be a hope of directly qualifying for the World Cup. And if they don’t, with the way the group is, they risk missing even the play-offs, which would be absolutely wild.

I’m sitting here, still, in utter disbelief.

They should have been three goals clear. Have you ever seen two lucky bounces like that? How on earth did they get something out of that at the end? And how on earth are the Socceroos still second in the group?

Could you imagine the strife we’d be in if Indonesia didn’t beat Saudi Arabia overnight?

Rollercoasters are boring compared to international football.

Our crude ‘live table’ is updated:

• 1st: Japan, P6 W5 D1 L0, 16 pts, GD +20
• 2nd: Australia, P6 W1 D4 L1, 7 pts, GD +1
• 3rd: Indonesia, P6 W1 D3 L2, 6 pts, GD -3
• 4th: Saudi Arabia, P6 W1 D3 L2, 6 pts, GD -3
• 5th: Bahrain, P6 W1 D3 L2, 6 pts, GD -5
• 6th: China, P6 W2 D0 L4, 6 pts, GD -10

That’s it. It’s a draw. Somehow.

Kusini Yengi scored after just 38 seconds and then again at the death - and thank heavens he did, because otherwise, Australia’s World Cup hopes would be in tatters.

In between, Bahrain scored two freakish goals that came from absolutely nowhere. The kind of goals that make you question whether there is a higher power and, if so, whose side they’re on. There is no universe in which this game should have ever been in doubt for the Socceroos. But alas, here we are.

Confirmed. Breathe.

Phew...

Can they find a winner now?