Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
CHANTING, drumming Bahraini fans played a noisy part in cheering on their side to a vital 1-0 World Cup victory over Qatar which secures them a third-place spot in their group and the tantalising possibility of a play-off clash against neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain are now behind only Australia and Japan who are almost certain to take the top two places and qualify automatically for the finals in South Africa.
Bahrain face the Socceroos in Sydney and then Uzbekistan at home in their last two games, both in June.
The third-placed side will play against the third-placed team in Group B, currently Saudi Arabia although they still must fancy their chances of leap-frogging over North and South Korea who lead the group only by goal difference and one point respectively.
The winner of the third-place play-off will have one more home and away hurdle to overcome before securing a berth in the finals - Oceania's representatives New Zealand.
