Australia edge Bahrain 1-0 to reach quarterfinals

Doha: Australia reached the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bahrain on Tuesday.

Mile Jedinak scored his first international goal in the draw against South Korea on Friday and got his second against Bahrain with a half-volley in the 37th minute. Bahrain, needing a win to stay in the tournament, kept Australia on the back foot for most of the second half in driving rain at the Al-Sadd Stadium but couldn`t get past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Australia won Group C on goal difference ahead of South Korea and avoided a meeting with three-time champion Iran. The Australians could face Iraq, North Korea or the United Arab Emirates in Saturday`s first quarterfinal match. Australia was up against a side still with a chance of reaching the quarterfinals, and it showed in a closely fought first half. Tim Cahill went close in the second minute when he won a 50-50 challenge before collecting a return pass from Brett Emerton and sending a shot just wide. But Bahrain threatened with some neat interchanges, and after picking up a clever pass from Abdulla Fatadi, Ismaeel Abdulatif almost added to the four goals he scored against India but smacked the outside of the post with an angled shot in the 31st. A minute later, Brett Holman squared for Harry Kewell, who was denied by goalkeeper Mahmood Mansoor. Cahill might have made it 2-0 early in the second half, but he headed wide after Kewell had beaten the offside trap, skipped past the keeper and crossed for the Everton midfielder. Bahrain continued to make it uncomfortable for Australia with its main threat provided by the lively Abdulatif. Schwarzer made diving saves from Abdulatif and Fatadi to keep his side in front. Schwarzer again came to his side`s rescue in the 67th, this time keeping the ball out with his feet after a cross found Abdulatif in space at the far post. As full time approached, Bahrain`s attacks finally petered out, with Australia happy to sit back on its lead, although the match ended on a worrying note for the Socceroos when Cahill limped off in added time after being injured in a midfield challenge. Bureau Report