Reaction from Bahrain head coach Miroslav Soukup and midfielder Ali Madan after a last-gasp Ahmed Khalil’s penalty saved UAE from embarrassment in front of their fans in the opening game of the AFC Asian Cup on Saturday.
The Group A match ended 1-1 at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium.
Bahrain found the net in the 78′ minute as Mohamed Al Rohaimi scored with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
The hosts levelled up the score 10 minutes later, when they were awarded a penalty following Mohamed Marhoon’s handball in the penalty area.
“I don’t know. Not really a handball but they maybe touch the ball but sorry I don’t know. I also didn’t see… there’s some video… until now because I was only changing room and back and sorry… From my position, I didn’t see anything. But maybe this is a hard luck because if it’s by corner (following a corner)… three-four corners then there is a handball. This is a hard luck but not the result, but the handball is hard luck.”
Ahmed Khalil, who seven minutes earlier had replaced Khamis Esmaeel, converted from the spot.
“A satisfactory result, we had expected the best. We would have taken the three points hadn’t been for their penalty. And I think it was not a penalty that should have been awarded. These mistakes from the referees can happen in football. I hope we will give our best in the next match.”said Ali Madan
The UAE will be next in action on Thursday when they face India, while Bahrain will play against Thailand on the same day. SNTV
