Bahrain 2-2 Australia: Yengi rescues point for visitors with stoppage-time equaliser

Kusini Yengi was the hero for Australia after scoring in the first minute and the 97th to help salvage a 2-2 draw away to Bahrain in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

The result extended manager Tony Popovic’s unbeaten start with the Socceroos to four matches, although three of those have been draws.

Things got off to a great start for the visitors, going a goal up inside 40 seconds after Portsmouth forward Kusini Yengi nipped in to intercept an underhit back pass from Sayid Mahdi Baqer and find the net.

Yengi had the next moment of note after hitting the post on 61 minutes from a Riley McGree cross, before a poor touch let him down when well-placed three minutes later.

Australia were made to pay for not killing the game, when Mahdi Abduljabbar lobbed Mat Ryan from 45 yards to get Bahrain level in the 75th minute. It went from bad to worse two minutes later, when Abduljabbar got his second following a defensive mix-up between Ryan and Hayden Matthews.

But Yengi rescued his side deep into stoppage time, reacting quickest to bury a ricocheting ball in the six-yard box. The result was Australia’s fourth draw in six matches and leaves them second in Group C on seven points, with teams from third to sixth – including fifth-placed Bahrain – all on six.

FT | A brace from Kusini Yengi helps us take a point in Bahrain.

The #Socceroos stay second in Group C.#BHRvAUS pic.twitter.com/vCSK7pGUYP

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 19, 2024

Data debrief: Australia need to find killer instinct

Australia controlled the majority of the match, even restricting Bahrain to 0.01 xG in the first half.

But they struggled to press home their advantage and put themselves out of sight, ultimately losing the xG battle 1.21-0.91.

Popovic’s side managed just one shot on target either side of half-time aside from their goals. They have scored just six goals in six matches in their qualifying group, 16 fewer than leaders Japan.