Kieran Francis
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The crucial World Cup qualifiers keep on coming for the Socceroos as they travel to Bahrain on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
Despite only winning one of their opening five qualifiers, Australia occupies the second of two automatic qualifying positions for World Cup 2026 with five games remaining.
Tony Popovic’s side could use three points against Bahrain to start to put a gap between themselves and the chasing pack.
The Sporting News is following the Bahrain vs. Socceroos match live, providing score updates and commentary
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Venue: Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain
Confirmed lineups:
Socceroos confirmed starting XI (3-4-2-1, right to left): Maty Ryan (GK) — Hayden Matthews, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess — Lewis Miller, Anthony Caceres, Jackson Irvine, Aziz Behich — Riley McGree, Craig Goodwin — Kusini Yengi
Socceroos subs: Paul Izzo, Joe Gauci, Milos Degenek, Rhyan Grant, Jordy Bos, Martin Boyle, Jason Geria, Ajdin Hrustic, Brandon Borrello, Aiden O’Neill, Mitch Duke, Max Balard
Bahrain confirmed starting XI (4-4-2, right to left): Ebrahim Lutfalla (GK) — Amine Benaddi, Sayed Dhiya, Hamad Al-Shamsan, Sayed Mahdy Baquer— Mohamed Marhoon, Abdulla Al-Khalasi, Ali Haram (Al-Humaidan 45′), Ibrahim Al Khatel — Komail Al Aswad, Ali Madan
Bahrain subs: Ammar Ahmed, Abbas Al Asfoor, Mahdi Al-Humaidan, Hazza Ali, Ahmed Al Sherooqi, Sayed Al-Wadaei, Moses Atede, Vincent Emmanuel, Mahdi Abduljabbar Mahdi Darwish Hasan
MORE: Socceroos World Cup qualifying fixtures, results | Socceroos squad for November World Cup qualifiers
56th min: Australia win a corner. Goodwin swings it in to the back post. Miller looks dangerous, Lutfulla comes for the ball but Bahrain get it clear. Miller is now down getting medical attention.
53rd min: Caceres makes a brilliant interception and drives Australia forward. But a lack of urgency from the Socceroos attackers sees the attack fizzle. Popovic will be disappointed.
50th min: Bahrain are definitely pushing numbers forward so far. This is allowing space for Australia to get in behind. Could be an entertaining half.
46th min: Promising early endeavour from Bahrain but Harry Souttar is in the way to head the ball clear as a dangerous cross was swung in.
Second half: The game has restarted again in Riffa. Can Australia close the job out?
HALF TIME: Bahrain 0-1 Australia
Kusini Yengi’s goal in the first minute has Australia holding a valuable 1-0 lead at half-time. There hasn’t been many chances for each team but the Socceroos looked gradually more dangerous as the half wore on.
46th min: There will be four minutes of added on time.
45th min: SUB BAHRAIN – The home side are forced to replace the injured Ali Haram with Mahdi Al-Humaidan.
44th min: Ali Haram is currently down injured getting medical treatment. The stretcher is out. Been a couple of minute delay so far. Should be plenty of added on time.
40th min: Bahrain are being reduced to playing on the counter themselves recently. Great result for Australia.
37th min: Half chance for Bahrain as a cross is swung in toward the back post but it’s too deep and out for a goal kick.
36th min: The Socceroos have been doing all the attacking in the last couple of minutes. With plenty of numbers getting forward looking for the second goal.
30th min: Goodwin wrong foots his opponents down the right, clips a cross in toward Irvine at the back post but Bahrain manage to clear for a corner. Which amounts to nothing.
29th min: Australia seem to be working their way into the game as Bahrain tire in the half. More and more numbers are getting forward and opportunities look to be coming.
24th min: CHANCE AUSTRALIA – Yengi so close to scoring a second. Caceres released McGree down the left, who prodded Yengi through on goal but the striker can’t lift the ball over Lutfalla.
21st min: The resulting corner from Goodwin is easily claimed by Bahrain keeper Lutfalla.
20th min: Australia finally spring to life. Matthews plays Miller down the right. The wing back swings a cross toward Yengi and a crucial Bahraini intervention forces a corner.
15th min: Promising attack for the Australia as Yengi attempts to break through once again but the Portsmouth striker is flagged for offside.
12th min: The Socceroos are comfortably sitting back in shape at the moment. Bahrain are possessing the ball but yet to threaten. Tony Popovic’s team will hope to create chances as the home side push numbers forward.
7th min: Bahrain have sprung to live, pinning Australia back in their box and swinging a few crosses in. But the Aussie defence stands tall and prevents any significant chances.
5th min: Interesting dynamic in this match. Bahrain would have been keen to sit back and hit Australia on the counter. Now they have to come at the Socceroos after the stunning opening goal
1st min: GOAL AUSTRALIA (Kusini Yengi)
Incredible start for the Socceroos. Yengi opens the scoring after just 38 seconds. He intercepted a loose backpass, rounded the keeper and slotted into an empty net. It was Sayed Baquer with the mistake.
38 SECONDS!!!!!
What a start by Kusini Yengi, poaching on an early mistake to give the @Socceroos the absolute dream start 🫨
Catch all the action of #BHRvAUS live and exclusive on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/dh6b6F4tRv
Kickoff: We are off here in Riffa. What a massive match this is.
5 mins before kickoff: It’s a vital match for both nations, particularly after Saudi Arabia lost 2-0 to Indonesia earlier. Bottom of the group Bahrain (five point) can incredibly jump second-placed Australia (six points) with a win. Three other teams are also on six points, including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and China.
15 mins before kickoff: Six changes for the Socceroos from the team that drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia last week. Sydney FC youngster Hayden Matthews makes his debut at centre-back. Maty Ryan comes back in to replace Joe Gauci. Other additions include Aziz Behich, Anthony Caceres, Craig Goodwin and Kusini Yengi.
📋 Your #Socceroos XI that will face Bahrain this morning! 🫡
Head coach Tony Popovic makes six changes from our last match in Melbourne 🔄
🇧🇭 v 🇦🇺 20.11.24, 5:15am AEDT
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30 mins before kickoff: Welcome to the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa for this morning’s World Cup qualifier between Bahrain and Australia. Team news coming imminently.
The only place to watch the Socceroos’ important World Cup qualifier against Bahrain is on Paramount+.
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Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket – when he is not on holiday.
