Goals from Ismaeel Abdullatef, Abdulla Baba and Salman Isa ensured Bahrain kicked off their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Hong Kong at Hong Kong Stadium.
The visitors took an early lead in the Group A encounter and never looked in danger of relinquishing their advantage with Hong Kong only managing a consolation effort in injury time.
Bahrain were without star names Ala'a Hubail, Mohamed Hussain and Jaycee John, but it made little difference as they went in front with just 10 minutes on the clock, Abdullatif latching onto Mohammed Salmeen's long through ball before slotting past Hong Kong goalkeeper Zhang Chunhui.
They extended their lead eight minutes before the break thanks to a mistake from the home side.
Isa made his way down the left flank and delivered a low cross that Ng Wai Chung could only clear straight to Baba, who slotted home.
Faouzi Mubarak wasted an opportunity to notch a third for Bahrain 10 minutes after the restart when he raced clear of the Hong Kong defence but dragged his effort harmlessly wide.
Milan Macala's side relaxed as the second half wore on and allowed the home side to come back into the game, but they still claimed a third goal three minutes from the end when Isa nodded home.
Substitute Cheng Siu Wai did, though, give the home fans something to cheer about on a balmy Hong Kong evening when he stole in unmarked at the back post to head Lee Chi Ho's cross into the back of the net in the dying seconds.
Bahrain were without star names Ala'a Hubail, Mohamed Hussain and Jaycee John, but it made little difference as they went in front with just 10 minutes on the clock, Abdullatif latching onto Mohammed Salmeen's long through ball before slotting past Hong Kong goalkeeper Zhang Chunhui.
They extended their lead eight minutes before the break thanks to a mistake from the home side.
Isa made his way down the left flank and delivered a low cross that Ng Wai Chung could only clear straight to Baba, who slotted home.
Faouzi Mubarak wasted an opportunity to notch a third for Bahrain 10 minutes after the restart when he raced clear of the Hong Kong defence but dragged his effort harmlessly wide.
Milan Macala's side relaxed as the second half wore on and allowed the home side to come back into the game, but they still claimed a third goal three minutes from the end when Isa nodded home.
Substitute Cheng Siu Wai did, though, give the home fans something to cheer about on a balmy Hong Kong evening when he stole in unmarked at the back post to head Lee Chi Ho's cross into the back of the net in the dying seconds.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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