Jedinak goal puts Australia in last 8

By N.D. Prashant/Doha

Jedinak celebrates his goal against Bahrain yesterday

A solitary goal by Mile Jedinak saw Australia end Bahrain’s Asian Cup challenge at the Al Sadd Stadium yesterday.
With this victory, the Socceroos, with seven points, topped Group ‘C’ on better goal difference than South Korea who defeated India 4-1 in their last group engagement, yesterday. However, both teams will only get to know whom they play in the quarter-finals after the group ‘D’ matches today.
The heavens opened up yesterday but it did very little to help the cause of the Bahraini side, who faced a must-win situation. The Socceroos only needed to make sure not to lose their final outing and they would have been more than happy with Bahrain’s defensive approach.

Australia’s Brett Emerton (R) and Bahrain’s Mahmood Abdulrahman jump for the ball during their Asian Cup Group C match at the Al Sadd Stadium yesterday

With Bahrain opting for a cautious start, Australia were the first to take a shot at the goal. Brett Emerton, who plays for Blackburn Rovers, sent in a power-packed grounder from the top of the box only to see it go just wide of the citadel. In the 18th minute, Everton star Tim Cahill shot just wide from a similar position.
The closest of chances for Bahrain came in the 27th minute when Abdullah Fatadi shot over the framework after he was fed by Ismaeel Abdulatif off a throw in by Abdulwahab Ali.
Australian custodian Mark Schwarzer was simply exceptional under the bar as he repeatedly foiled even the slightest of opportunities that came Bahrain’s way. In the 30th minute, Schwarzer won a battle with Abdulatif, who scored four goals against India. Abdulatif’s full blooded shot, after being set up inside the ‘D ’ by Fatadi, was well-blocked by an onrushing Schwarzer. Australia almost got the breakthrough in the 31st minute when Brett Holman stole the ball from the midfield and after making a swift run down the centre set it across for the unmarked Harry Kewell. Kewell had an open goal in front but he failed to beat the Bahraini goalie Mahmood Mansoor.
The Aussies were however rewarded in the 36th minute, when an Emerton shot from the left flank was headed back by Bahraini defender Abdulla Marzooqi. The ball then found an unmarked Jedinak, lurking metres outside the box, whose first time grounder settled into the right corner of the goal past a diving Mansoor.
After the change of ends, the Bahraini team showed far more purpose in their approach as a couple of their midfielders, including Fatadi, were pushed up to support striker Abdulatif.
This move was almost rewarded instantly and had it not been for the guile of Australian goalkeeper Schwarzer, who walked away with the man of match award later, Bahrain would have drawn level in the 49th minute.
Abdulatif unleashed a powerful shot from the top of the box after breaking through the Aussie defence-line but an alert Schwarzer stretched enough to his left to thwart the danger. Later, another effort from Abdulatif from the left flank was also kept out by Schwarzer and it became evident that it was not going to be Bahrain’s day. Bahraini coach Salman Sharida’s move to persist with veteran skipper Salman Isa until the 85th was also questionable. Isa was clearly struggling and even had his hands on his knees towards the last quarter but that somehow failed to catch the eye of the coach. He was finally replaced by Abdulwahab al-Malood but by then it was too late for Bahrain to stage any comeback.
"It was a decisive win, but tough. Bahrain played well, still we took three points. We’ve topped our group and it’ll boost our morale. We’ve seen many tough teams in the competition and I’m happy that we still remain in it. We had different ideas before the kick-off. We’ve to give credit to the Bahrainis. They gave us a tough time,” said Australia’s German coach Holger Osieck.
Sharida, despite the loss, was satisfied with his boys’ performance. "We were in a must-win situation and delivered the best we could. We were better and more organised than in the last match against India, though lost many chances.
"Australia are a strong team with a lot of experience and I’m happy with the way we played against them. We could foil their attacks and they scored the only goal from outside the box. Our team looks to be in a good shape,” said Sharida.