In a shocking turn of events, Australia fell to a 1-0 loss against Bahrain in their first 2026 World Cup qualifying match on home soil at the Gold Coast. The Socceroos, who dominated possession throughout the game, were frustrated by a resolute Bahrain defense, culminating in an 89th-minute own goal by Harry Souttar. With this defeat, Australia finds itself in a precarious position, as only the top two teams from their group can secure direct qualification to the World Cup.

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Australia vs Bahrain Head-to-Head

Historically, Australia has had the upper hand over Bahrain, winning their previous encounters with relative ease. The most notable meeting before this was a 3-1 win for Australia back in 2006. However, this time around, Bahrain turned the tables, claiming their first-ever victory over the Socceroos in a critical World Cup qualifier.

Australia vs Bahrain Lineups

Here are the Australia vs Bahrain lineups today (Sep 5, 2024)

Australia (4-2-3-1)

1. Mathew Ryan (C)
2. Aziz Behich
3. Kye Rowles
4. Harry Souttar
5. Alessandro Circati
6. Aiden O’Neill
7. Jackson Irvine
8. Craig Goodwin
9. Connor Metcalfe
10. Martin Boyle
11. Kusini Yengi

Substitutes:
10. Awer Mabil
20. Nestory Irankunda
15. Mitchell Duke

Bahrain (4-4-2):
22. Ebrahim Lutfalla
2. Amine Benaddi
16. Sayed Mahdi Baqer
23. Abdulla Al-Khalasi
17. Vincent Ani Emmanuel
4. Abbas Al-Asfoor
14. Ali Abdula Haram
8. Mohamed Marhoon
7. Ali Jaafar Madan
12. Mahdi Abduljabbar
19. Komail Al-Aswad

Substitutes:
5. Hamed Al-Shamsan
9. Husain Abdulkarim
11. Ibrahim Al-Khatal

Australia vs Bahrain First Half

The match began with both teams displaying a cautious approach. Australia controlled the majority of possession, leading 66% to Bahrain’s 34%. Despite this, the Socceroos struggled to break through Bahrain’s well-organized defense.

In the 44th minute, Australia’s most promising chance came when Harry Souttar delivered a pinpoint pass to Alessandro Circati, whose late run into the box nearly put Australia ahead. However, the 20-year-old couldn’t quite reach the ball. Despite this surge, the half ended scoreless, with Australia registering just one shot on target out of three attempts.

Australia vs Bahrain Half-time Score: Australia 0-0 Bahrain

Australia vs Bahrain Second Half

Australia looked to increase the tempo in the second half, and coach Graham Arnold introduced Bayern Munich’s Nestory Irankunda in the 57th minute to add spark to the attack. Irankunda made an immediate impact, earning a free kick and registering two attempts at goal, though neither troubled Bahrain’s goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla.

The game began to unravel for Australia in the 77th minute when forward Kusini Yengi was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Sayed Baqer. This left Australia with 10 men and made it increasingly difficult to break down Bahrain’s defense.

In the 89th minute, the deadlock was finally broken, but not in the way Australia had hoped. Abdulla Al-Khalasi’s cross from the left deflected off Harry Souttar’s outstretched boot and rolled past Mat Ryan into the back of the net, handing Bahrain a shock 1-0 lead.

Australia had one final chance in stoppage time when Mitchell Duke found himself unmarked in the box, but his header sailed wide of the goal, ending Australia’s hopes of salvaging a point.

Australia vs Bahrain Full-time Score: Australia 0-1 Bahrain

Australia vs Bahrain Timeline

• 1st Half:
  • 30′: Australia dominates possession but lacks clear chances.
  • 44′: Circati narrowly misses a chance from Souttar’s pass.
• 2nd Half:
  • 57′: Irankunda enters and immediately wins a free kick for Australia.
  • 77′: Kusini Yengi receives a straight red card for a high boot on Baqer.
  • 89′ (Goal): Abdulla Al-Khalasi sends in a cross that deflects off Souttar for an own goal.
  • 90+4′ (Miss): Mitchell Duke heads wide from close range, missing Australia’s best opportunity for an equalizer.

Australia vs Bahrain Stats

• Possession: Australia 70% – Bahrain 30%
• Shots: Australia 10 – Bahrain 4
• Shots on Target: Australia 4 – Bahrain 1
• Fouls: Australia 15 – Bahrain 10
• Yellow Cards: Australia 3 – Bahrain 2
• Red Cards: Australia 1 – Bahrain 0
• Corners: Australia 7 – Bahrain 2

Australia vs Bahrain Stellar Performance of the Match:
Ebrahim Lutfalla (Bahrain)
The Bahrain goalkeeper was a fortress between the posts, denying Australia’s best efforts and playing a crucial role in his team’s clean sheet. His composure and command of the penalty area were key in frustrating the Socceroos.

Bahrain’s historic victory over Australia dealt a major blow to the Socceroos’ 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Australia lacked the cutting edge to break down a resilient Bahrain side. Kusini Yengi’s red card and Harry Souttar’s unfortunate own goal compounded the Socceroos’ woes. With only the top two teams from their group earning direct qualification to the World Cup, Australia must regroup quickly ahead of their next match against Indonesia, where a victory is now crucial to keep their World Cup dreams alive.