All that was left to do was for both sets of players to lay on the pitch at the King Fahd International stadium, exhausted, and point to God. Once again Bahrain had prevailed in a World Cup play-off, moving them one step away from the finals after drawing 2-2 with Saudi Arabia.
The three minutes that had just preceded the end of the match, arguably some of the craziest in World Cup football, had made the players, coaches and fans of both sides alike, wonder whether they had just witnessed something spiritual. With the game drifting into the 90th minute, and with Bahrain going through on away goals following a tense scrappy match that the Saudis really deserved to win, former Asian Player of the Year Hamad Al Montashari towered over Bahrain's defence and headed the Green Falcons through to the next round.
The crowd exploded in relief and pride. Even the usually demure phalanx of Saudi royalty could afford a smile and just a hint of a fist pump. But less than 90 second later, and with Saudi fans and players still celebrating, Ismail Abdullatif flicked in a Salman Issa corner with one of the last touches of the game, causing both sides to collapse and look skywards. "We were lucky to score in the last minute," said coach Milan Macala.
"But we really deserve to the reach the World Cup finals." Certainly a few teams are as deserving at a place in the finals as Bahrain. After controversially squeezing past Uzbekistan at the same stage four years ago, controversially because their first leg against the Uzbeks was ordered to be replayed by Fifa after the Japanese referee made a technical error in the match, Bahrain were narrowly beaten by Trinidad and Tobago in a final intercontinental play-off.
Few thought that a nation the size of Bahrain would ever get that close to qualification again. Now Macala will never have a better chance of realising his dream of managing a team at the World Cup. New Zealand, who beat Jordan 3-1 in warm up match, have long been the opponents in waiting for a final two-legged intercontinental play-off next month. The Bahrainis will not be intimidated, especially considering the All Whites poor showing at this summer's Confederations Cup.
Questions will of course be asked as to why Saudi Arabia were even in this position in the first place and Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro will surely now lose his job. "I think the players did the role I asked of them and the defeat is my responsibility," he said magnanimously after the game. But, for Bahrain, the dream is still alive for a maiden bow at the World Cup. "What is most important now is what is to come," declared goal-scoring hero Abdullatif.
"Thank God we were able to win." It will be a difficult task but, given those crazy last few moments in Riyadh, Bahrain will think they have higher powers on their side. @Email:sports@thenational.ae
