19.01.2015 12:07 h

Late Ahmed chip leaves Qatar red-faced

Sayed Ahmed scored a glorious late chip as Bahrain shattered Qatar 2-1 and left the future World Cup hosts ruing a string of missed chances in their Asian Cup dead rubber on Monday.

With both teams already eliminated, the match in Sydney was heading for a draw until Ahmed spotted Qatar 'keeper Qasem Burhan off his line and embarrassed him in the 82nd minute.

The defeat was a disaster for Gulf Cup champions Qatar, who came to Australia with high hopes but leave with much to ponder as they build towards the 2022 World Cup.

With little but pride at stake at a cool, damp and sparsely attended Stadium Australia, both sides showed little caution as chances flowed at both ends.

Qatar's Ali Asadalla had the goal at his mercy but chose to pass, and striker Mohammed Muntari nearly scored three with his head in the first half, crashing one effort off the post.

Hasan Al Haydos had a shot cleared off the line while at the other end, Bahrain's Shubbar also shuddered the upright with a header before he made the breakthrough on 32 minutes.

The Moroccan-born Faouzi Aaish ran through a crowd of defenders and cut back to Shubbar, who checked before picking his spot and ramming Bahrain ahead.

Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi forced a point-blank save from Hamed Aldoseri before half-time, and their frustrations grew after the break when Muntari had a goal ruled out for offside.

The eventual equaliser was soft, as Al Haydos's grass-cutting free kick crept under the leaping wall and into the bottom right corner on 68 minutes.

Muntari kicked the post in anger when yet another flying header sailed narrowly over, and he was guilty of a howling miss on 78 minutes when he shot wide from six yards out.

And Qatar were made to fully regret their missed opportunities eight minutes from time, when Ahmed saw his chance and chipped perfectly past the stranded Burhan.