SYDNEY — Bahrain proved too strong for Saudi Arabia, winning 4-1 in an Asian Cup warm-up match in Geelong, Australia, Tuesday. In front of several hundred fans under lights at Simonds, Bahrain took control in the first half going into the break with a 2-0 lead. The Saudis struck back shortly after the break before the friendly turned not so friendly as things got heated. But the drama clearly didn't affect the Bahrain players who found the net twice again, according to the Geelong Advertiser website. Mahmoud to lead Iraq Iraq's most-capped player Younis Mahmoud was named in the 23-man squad for next month's Asian Cup despite not playing for a club for more than a year. The 31-year-old forward, who skippered the side to the 2007 Asian Cup title, has scored more than 50 goals for Iraq in more than 130 appearances but has not had a club contract since leaving Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli in December last year. The talisman has instead represented Iraq's mainly under-23 side at the Asian Games in September, where it won a bronze medal after he scored four goals. Mahmoud was the only player aged over 30 named in Radhi Shenaishil's squad Monday for the Group D matches in Australia against holder Japan and fellow west Asian sides Palestine and Jordan. Colombus Crew forward Justin Meram, Swindon Town midfielder Yaser Kasim and talented 18-year-old playmaker Human Tareq were also named in the 23. Sydney FC midfielder Ali Abbas, part of the 2007 winning side, missed out on a place in the squad after suffering a serious knee injury last month. NK replaces coach North Korea has replaced suspended head coach Yun Jong-su with his predecessor Jo Tong-sop for the Asian Cup. Yun was banned for 12 months by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) earlier this month for “offensive behavior” during the Asian Games final in South Korea where it lost 1-0 to the hosts. Yun and the North Korean bench remonstrated with officials after the match and accused referees of favoring their bitter rivals South Korea, who they are still technically at war with. Yun's ban meant the former international was not allowed to enter the dressing room or the area surrounding the field of play but could still attend training sessions and undertake other football-related activities, the AFC said. North Korea, which will compete in its fourth Asian Cup in Australia, did not respond to requests from Reuters to confirm the switch but the AFC said Jo had been registered as head coach for the Jan. 9-31 tournament. — Agencies
