Australia’s 2-2 draw with Bahrain on Tuesday night in Riffa was nothing short of a rollercoaster, with the Socceroos narrowly escaping defeat after a late injury-time equalizer from Kusini Yengi. Despite holding a 1-0 lead for most of the match, the Socceroos faced a series of twists that left their World Cup qualifying campaign hanging by a thread—before Yengi’s dramatic intervention ensured they stayed in second place in Group C.

The game began in thrilling fashion for the visitors as Yengi capitalized on an early mistake from Bahrain’s defense. Just 38 seconds into the match, he pounced on a disastrous backpass from Sayed Baqer, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to give Australia a swift lead. While the Socceroos controlled the game for much of the first half, Bahrain grew into the match, with Australia unable to fully shake off the hosts’ attacking pressure.

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In the 75th minute, Bahrain shocked the Socceroos with a stunning equalizer. A deflected ball sent Mahdi Abduljabbar racing forward from 45 yards out, and with goalkeeper Mat Ryan off his line, Abduljabbar expertly lobbed the ball over his head and into the net. This incredible goal turned the tide, and moments later, Bahrain took the lead with a rebound from Abduljabbar after a cross deflected off debutant Hayden Mathews. Bahrain’s sudden surge saw them claim second place in Group C, while Australia found themselves on the backfoot, now third in the standings.

However, the Socceroos refused to give up. In a last-ditch effort, Australia mounted an attack in injury time, and in the 96th minute, a Brandon Borello header deflected into the six-yard box, where Yengi reacted quickest to slam the ball home for his second goal of the night. His injury-time strike salvaged a crucial point for the Socceroos, keeping their World Cup qualifying dream alive.

The result leaves Australia second in Group C with seven points, just one point ahead of four teams, all with six points. While the draw seemed unlikely for most of the game, Yengi’s resilience ensured that the Socceroos remain in the driver’s seat for a potential 2026 World Cup spot.