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By Mohamed Assed.
Tripoli, June 30:
The Libyan football team scored two of the . . .[restrict]three goals when they locked horns with the Bahrainis in their final match of the first round in the 2012 Arab Cup contest on Friday. Bahrain has now lost all its matches in the group and bows out of the competition.
The match took place in the Saudi Arabian town of Taif. Libya was clearly surprised when the Bahrainis took the lead in the 38th minute when Ahmed Al-Khattal managed to score Bahrain’s only goal of the match. Ahmed Saad, Libya’s main star player, scored the equalizer 20 minutes before the final whistle after successfully converting a penalty kick.
Ahmed Saad posed a permanent threat on the Bahraini defense throughout the first half of the match, as he rampaged through the opponent’s defences. However, Libya’s numerous chances were denied by impressive goalkeeping from Abdullah Al-Kaabi.
Against the flow of the game, Bahrain scored the first goal with Abdulwahaab Al-Malood sending in a deep pass from the Bahraini centre half to Ahmed Al-Khattal who managed to dribble his way through the Libyan defense and send in a cool finish to the left of the Libyan goalkeeper.
Libya was very close to equalizing the score just two minutes after Bahrain’s opener, when Abdulaziz Berreesh’s header was deflected to a corner kick by Bahraini defender Waleed Al-Hayaam.
Bahrain was desperate to preserve their one-goal lead as they entered the second half of the game and it showed with an obvious defensive approach. However, Libya’s coach, Abdulhafeed Arbich, made his continuous instructions and remarks from the sidelines of the pitch to his players, pressuring them to get the equalizer. In the 70th minute, Libya deservedly won a penalty kick as Ahmed Saad stepped in to convert successfully from the spot, and equalize the score. Four minutes later, Libya took the lead when Mohammed Al-Ghanoudi scored the second goal.
With this win, the Libyan team added three more points to its tally and finished second of Group B with seven points, just behind Morocco. The Moroccans head the group because their goal advantage, having managed to win their last game of the group stage when they defeated Yemen 4-0.
Libya will now face Saudi Arabia in the first semi-final match, to be played next Tuesday at 4:15 pm Libya time. [/restrict]
