Australia 1-0 Bahrain

AFC – DOHA, Australia cemented their place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bahrain at Al Sadd Stadium on Tuesday.

Mile Jedinak scored the game’s only goal – his second in as many games – to hand his side their second win of the tournament and ensure they finish top of Group C ahead of Korea Republic.

Both sides were clearly eager to get their noses in front early on as Brett Emerton swept a low shot just wide of the post after three minutes while Bahrain first threatened two minutes later when Hamad Rakea’s shot flew over the crossbar.

But the rain that had been falling consistently throughout the day clearly had its effect on playing conditions and both sides struggled to create chances in the following minutes with Australia having to wait until the 18th minute to create their second chance when Tim Cahill’s shot was wide of the left upright.

Bahrain went close in the 27th minute when Abdulla Fatadi’s effort went over the crossbar just three minutes before Jedinak fired over in similar fashion at the other end.

Mark Schwarzer was first called into action just after the half hour mark as Abdulla Fatadi made his way into the area before passing to Ismaeel Abdulatif, whose close-range shot was denied by the Fulham keeper.

Harry Kewell brought out a save from Bahrain keeper Mahmood Mansoor soon after but Australia took the lead in the 37th minute when Jedinak embarked on a good run before sending a powerful shot from distance into the back of the net.

Jedinak nearly doubled his side’s advantage two minutes later but this time Mansoor was equal to his rasping drive.

Seeing their qualification chances slipping away, Bahrain went on the attack in the second half and they should have levelled the scores five minutes after the break but Abdulatif’s shot from point blank range was blocked by Schwarzer.

The Soccerroos could have had a second seven minutes into the second period when Kewell broke the offside trap before rounding Mansour but his cross was headed wide by Cahill despite the Everton marksman having the goal at his mercy.

Schwarzer made another crucial intervention from a well-hit Abdulatif shot midway through the half, which proved to be the last real chance for the Bahrainis as Australia successfully closed out the remainder of the match to seal the victory.