Fatadi leveller denies Qatar against Bahrain

Bahrain fell behind after only five minutes to a Sebastian Soria strike and played for more than half the match a player down after Abdulla Marzooq was sent off in the 36th minute.

But Abdulla Fatadi levelled the score midway through the second half to give the Bahrainis their first point of the campaign after last weekend’s 3-2 home loss to Japan.

The Qataris trounced Uzbekistan 3-0 at the same venue on Saturday and enjoyed an excellent start against their Gulf neighbours when Soria received a long pass from Bilal Mohammed before lashing a first-time volley past Bahrain goalkeeper Seyed Mohammed Jaafar.

The home side should have added a second four minutes later when Majdi Siddiq’s free kick from the right was cleared by Jaafar but fell to Khalfan Ibrahim, who put his shot just wide of the left upright with the goal at his mercy.

Bahrain struggled to get into the game with their first notable chance only coming after 18 minutes as Fatadi’s powerful shot from outside the area went straight at Qatar goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr.

Qatar were awarded a penalty in the 34th minute after a foul by Abdulla Marzooq on Soria but the Uruguay-born striker saw his attempt saved by Jaafar who dived to his left to make the stop.

However, Bahrain suffered another blow less than a minute later when Marzooq was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a foul on Marcone Amaral.

Bahrain had the first chance of the second half in the 51st minute when Jaycee Okwunwanne received the ball and surged into the box only for Amaral to clear the danger before the Belgium-based striker could get his shot away.

Qatar went close five minutes later when Majdi Siddiq’s shot went over the crossbar and Fabio Cesar then fired in a powerful free-kick from 35 yards that rocked the woodwork.

However, it was the visitors who would find the net midway through the half as Okwunwanne teed up a pass for Abdulla Fatadi who charged into the box to fire a powerful shot which was deflected by Wesam Rizik past Mohamed Saqr.

Bahrain could even have got a winner 13 minutes from time when Okwunwanne back heeled the ball to Abdulla Omar who curled a powerful shot that was turned out by Saqr for a corner.