UAE beat Bahrain to book 2015 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:24 am
Ali Mabkhout gave UAE a first-minute lead before Bahrain equalised in the 26th minute.
SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images

A goal after just 14 seconds by Ali Mabkhout set up a 2-1 win for the United Arab Emirates over Bahrain in Canberra on Thursday at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

The striker scored his third goal of the tournament as UAE made it two wins from two games in Group C to move through to the quarterfinals.

A second successive defeat eliminated Bahrain with one game remaining. Mabkhout's goal was cancelled out after 26 minutes by a Jaycee John header.

A quiet second half came to life with an own goal, as Bahrain captain Mohamed Hasan headed an Amer Abdulrahman free-kick into his own net.

UAE's spot in the last eight was confirmed when Iran defeated Qatar 1-0 in another Group C game on Thursday, played in Sydney.

UAE and Iran will battle it out for top spot in Group C on Monday in Brisbane while Bahrain take on Qatar in Sydney in a game between two eliminated teams.