This match was really explosive!
Just those two matches, Bahrain against Yemen, Saudi Arabia against Iraq, really turned the entire Asian football scene upside down overnight. Honestly, Bahrain was defeated, Saudi Arabia made a comeback, and the prospects for the national team don't look too optimistic!
Let's talk about the Bahrain versus Yemen match.
Who would have thought that this match, which was originally seen as an easy win for Bahrain, would instead become a shocking upset. Although Bahrain had previously won the Gulf Cup championship in 2019, this time they really took a big fall. At the beginning of the first half, both sides were going back and forth, the atmosphere was tense, but who would have thought that Bahrain actually gave away a big gift in defense - a defensive player made a mistake and directly scored an own goal!
Yemen took the lead 1-0, which was really unexpected! Do you think this wouldn't make the Bahraini fans worried? How can this game be played? Netizens complained in the live broadcast of the match, such a low-level mistake, what is the Bahrain team doing? The Bahraini fans are almost furious, they originally thought they could easily pass, but the situation suddenly changed for the worse. Bahrain did not give up, and launched a fierce counterattack in the second half. In the 62nd minute, they finally equalized the score with a beautiful combination, 1-1! It once seemed like they could turn the game around, but the next plot really made people's hearts race. The problem came, the Bahraini players actually made a big mistake - a serious foul, directly receiving a red card and playing one man down! How can it be like this? One man down, the Bahrain defense began to collapse, giving Yemen a gap. Sure enough, in the 88th minute, Yemen seized the opportunity and successfully scored, killing Bahrain 2-1! This match really made people's emotions complicated. The Bahraini players were helpless and left the field with their heads down; the Yemeni players were thrilled, securing their first Gulf Cup victory since 2009! Just like that, Bahrain lost to Yemen again after 14 years, this upset really shocked everyone. Bahrain is so strong, yet they were killed by Yemen! Isn't this too incredible? Netizens have expressed that this match is simply like a magical realism drama, Bahrain's defense was too loose, and they were pitted by their own mistakes. Indeed, Bahrain's mistakes were too difficult to understand, and it also gave everyone a profound lesson - on the football field, any small oversight can lead to a huge mistake. Let's take a look at the life-and-death battle between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. This match was destined to be full of drama from the start. Saudi Arabia and Iraq each had 1 win and 1 loss in the first two rounds of the group stage, and the significance of the life-and-death battle goes without saying. The two teams tested each other on the field, with slow transitions between attack and defense, it was like a warm-up match that had been going on for half a day. In the first half, there was almost no substantial offense from either side, with few shots on goal, making the scene a bit boring. This match is too dull, neither Saudi Arabia nor Iraq dare to let loose, they are really worried about losing! Some netizens commented after the match. The opening of this match was somewhat disappointing, but then it started a different rhythm. In the 55th minute, Saudi Arabia seized the opportunity and broke the deadlock through a penalty kick, leading 1-0! Iraq was not to be outdone and quickly fought back, equalizing the score in just a few minutes, 1-1! The audience almost exploded, this match just couldn't stop, it could erupt at any moment! Saudi Arabia's Hamdan is not ordinary! In the 81st minute, Hamdan scored the decisive second goal with a brilliant individual attack, putting Saudi Arabia ahead 2-1! That's when Iraq completely panicked. Then, just as the match was nearing its end, in the 87th minute, Hamdan exerted himself again, shooting from a distance and directly piercing Iraq's defense to complete a brace, 3-1! The match ultimately ended with this score, Saudi Arabia won the match 3-1, defeating Iraq again after 17 years. Saudi fans must be overjoyed, while Iraq looked dejected. Saudi Arabia was too exciting in this match, Hamdan was simply the MVP of the match! Some netizens left messages, he was like the key man in the match, repeatedly bailing out the team! He's too strong! Indeed, Hamdan's performance was outstanding, his two goals directly determined the outcome of the match. While Iraq fought hard, they were unable to score points under Saudi Arabia's strong counterattacks. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have the same number of points, both with 6, but due to the head-to-head results between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain ranks first in the group with a slight advantage, while Saudi Arabia ranks second. Bahrain will face Kuwait, while Saudi Arabia will face Oman. It seems that the top four situation has basically been decided. As for the national team, the situation isn't as optimistic. The strong performances of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have put considerable pressure on the national team. Everyone knows that in 2024, the national team's group stage of the top 18 will face these two teams, especially Saudi Arabia, who will be playing at home, really making the prospects for the national team look quite severe. Coach Ivankovic also stated that the national team must get at least 1 win and 1 draw in these two matches to lay the foundation for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. If these two matches don't go well, there's really no hope for the World Cup! Some netizens also commented, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are in such good form now, the national team needs to step up! Yes, the national team faces great challenges ahead and must come up with some real skills to meet even greater tests. Therefore, these two matches tonight really set off a storm in the entire Asian football circle. From Bahrain's mistakes to Saudi Arabia's comeback, every match was full of suspense and drama, bringing us a mix of surprises and regrets. The future of the national team is full of challenges, but this is also the motivation for them to pursue their dreams. The upcoming matches will be even more intense, who will stand out among these strong teams, we'll just have to wait and see.
