Bahrain pip Saudi

Manama : Hosts Bahrain kicked off their campaign with a perfect start last night on the opening day of the AFC U-19 Football Championship at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.

Ahmed Mohammed fired a fourth minute stoppage goal to give Bahrain a stunning 3-2 victory over two-time champions Saudi Arabia in their Group A match.

Bahrain had taken a 2-0 lead with goals from Mohammed Marhoon after 41 minutes and Mohammed Al Hardan (49th), but the Saudis came back strong and leveled the scores through Rakan Al Anaze (56th) and Sami Al Naji’s penalty (80th).

However, deep into stoppage time, second-half substitute Ahmed Mohammed blasted a long-range shot into the roof of the net sending thousands of Bahrain supporters into massive celebrations.

In the same group earlier, 12-time winners South Korea beat Thailand 3-1 at the national stadium in Riffa thanks to goals by Jeong Taewook (13th), Han Chan-hee (40th) and Kang Ji-hun (90th), while Anon Amornlertsak (77th) netted Thailand’s consolation goal.

Tournament action continues today with four matches in Groups ‘C’ and ‘D’ as Qatar begin their title defence against highly-favoured Iran in Group ‘C’ at 7.30pm at the national stadium and in the same group,

Yemen take on Japan at 4.30pm at the same venue.