World Cup 2010

Bahrain 5-1 Togo: Reds Warm Up For New Zealand World Cup Decider In Style

The Reds are looking good ahead of their big match next week...

Nov 7, 2009 4:52:15 AM

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Bahrain national team (Getty Images)

Teams

Bahrain warmed up for their 2010 World Cup decider against New Zealand next week by thrashing Togo 5-1 on Friday.

In the first leg last month, the Reds struggled to break down the Kiwi defence and the match ended goalless.

The team has no such problem against the Africans.

Bahrain were missing a number of foreign based players but were ahead eight minutes before the break thanks to Abdullah Fatadi who scored from close range.

Two minutes later, Ismail Abdullatif made it two and then he scored again ten minutes later.

Togo were back in the game thanks to Sename Dove Wome but Bahrain finished strongly thanks to a penalty from Husain Ali Baba and then Fatadi got his second and Bahrain’s fifth in injury time.

"It was a good win, although Togo were missing many key players as they were very weak and were not as we expected," national team manager Hassan Khalfan told the Gulf Daily News.

"I think scoring five goals helps our players mentally as we prepare for our match with New Zealand," Khalfan said.

"It is an example of what they can do. If they can do this in a friendly, they should be able to perform the same in a match atmosphere."

Bahrain travel to Sydney on Saturday to prepare for the Wellington match.