Late Husain Ali strike denies China

AFC - China 2 (Zheng Zhi 59-pen, Li Jinyu 68) Bahrain 2 (Mohamed Hubail 41, Husain Ali 89)
Asian Cup 2004 - Group A
Workers' Stadium, Beijing

BEIJING: Hosts China were denied a victory in the opening match of the Asian Cup 2004 as a late goal by substitute Husain Ali earned Bahrain a 2-2 draw in Beijing on Saturday evening.

Second-half goals by Zheng Zhi and Li Jinyu had turned the match in China’s favour after the home side fell behind to a Mohamed Hubail strike late in the first half of the Group A encounter. 

However, Husain Ali managed to shrug off the attention of two defenders before firing past China goalkeeper Liu Yunfei to earn the Gulf side a share of the points at the Workers’ Stadium.

The Gulf side started strongly, forcing a series of corners in the opening 10 minutes before the hosts gradually settled their nerves and asserted themselves on the match.

The Chinese attack was continually frustrated by Bahrain’s well-drilled defence, although evergreen striker Hao Haidong had a good opportunity in the 22nd minute as his weak low shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Ali Saeed.

Four minutes before the break, the Bahrainis stunned the home fans as they took the lead through Mohamed Hubail. An exquisite through pass by Talal Yusuf released the 21-year-old Al Ahli midfielder, who chipped past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Liu Yunfei from 25 metres.

China midfielder Yan Song went close to leveling the score shortly before half time as his volley flashed just wide of the Bahrain left upright.

The hosts emerged fired up at the start of the second half and Ali Saeed did well to turn aside efforts by Li Jinyu and Zhou Ting.

However, China’s pressure finally paid off in the 59th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Sayed Mohamed stuck a hand out and touched the ball as he was being rounded on the left byline by Yan Song.

The referee awarded the kick to be retaken after Zheng Zhi sent Ali Saeed the wrong way from the spot, but the Shenzhen Jianlibao defender kept his cool, cheekily chipping the ball into the centre of the Bahrain goal at the second attempt.

China then took the lead nine minutes later as Zhou Ting’s through ball sent Siemens Man of the Match Li Jinyu clear down the left channel with the Shandong Luneng beating Ali Saeed and going into the net off the far post.

Li’s well-executed strike looked to have earned China victory but Husain Ali’s late strike ensured that the Bahrainis left the Workers’ Stadium with a share of the points.