BAHRAIN gave New Zealand a preview of their attacking prowess last night with a 5-1 pummelling of Togo in an international friendly played at home.
The game was part of the Bahrainis' preparations for their winner-take-all clash next Saturday in Kiwi capital Wellington - the return match of their Asia-Oceania playoff which decides which team goes to next year's Fifa World Cup in South Africa.
Bahrain's ability to finish in front of goal was harshly questioned after a goalless first leg last month, during which they had numerous clear-cut chances. But despite playing without many of their foreign-based professional players, those doubts were quashed yesterday with their brilliant showing against their respected African rivals, who were also not in full strength.
Abdulla Fatai and Ismail Abdullateef each scored a brace to lift Milan Macala-coached Bahrain. Fatai and Abdullateef had a goal apiece on either side of half-time, while Hussain Baba provided the other.
"It was a good win, although Togo were missing many key players as they were very weak and were not as we expected," national team manager Hassan Khalfan told the GDN after the victory.
Fatai was a force in midfield in yesterday's encounter, and he opened the scoring in the 37th minute after slotting the ball home from close range. The young midfielder, who had been granted an early release from his Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax along with countryman Abdulla Ismail Omar, later capped the win with a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time after the ball was handled in the box.
Fatai's opener was followed by Abdullateef's first goal, which helped Bahrain take a 2-0 lead before half-time. Abdullateef had also scored from close range - a result of Bahrain's complete bombardment of Togo's goal, which created chances galore, although they were unlucky not to find the finishing touches more often.
Abdullateef later supplied Bahrain's third 12 minutes into the second half. The lanky Riffa Club striker was on the receiving end of a fine one-touch pass from substitute Abdulwahab Ali Abdulwahab. Abdullateef made no mistake with his low shot and he gave the Bahrainis a commanding 3-0 lead.
Togo tried valiantly to stay in the game, but Bahrain were clearly in control throughout. The visitors did, however, manage to come away with a consolation. Eighteen-year-old striker Sename Dove Wome beat the national team's second-string goalkeeper Abbas Ahmed in the 69th minute to give the Togolese something to smile about in an otherwise dark day.
Baba then restored Bahrain's three-goal advantage after stepping up to take a penalty in the 88th minute. Ahmed Hassan Rashid, another second-half substitute, was taken down in the area by Togo midfielder Sadat Akoriko Ouro, who was shown a yellow card. Baba coolly converted the spot kick, and minutes later Fatai's penalty sealed the big win.
"I think scoring five goals helps our players mentally as we prepare for our match with New Zealand," Khalfan said. "It is an example of what they can do. If they can do this in a friendly, they should be able to perform the same in a match atmosphere."
Bahrain were playing last night without influential players Mohammed Salmeen, Jaycee John, Salman Issa, Sayed Mohammed Adnan, Faouzi Aaish, and Mohammed Hussein, all of whom were still with their clubs. Their captain, Sayed Mahmood Jalal, suffered a scare after receiving a knock in the opening half, for which he had to be stretchered off the pitch. Macala later revealed that he would be OK.
Bahrain leave tomorrow for Sydney, where they will train until Thursday when they fly to Wellington.
