twist at the end of an otherwise uneventful clash dashed Saudi Arabia's hopes of taking to the greatest sporting stage in the world as it drew its second-leg playoff with Bahrain two goals apiece at King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh Wednesday night, sending the hosts out on the away-goals rule. The teams had drawn 0-0 in the first playoff in Bahrain. The joy of Saudi defender Hamad Al-Muntashiri's goal, Saudi's second, in the 91st minute to seemingly assure victory and passage to South Africa was quashed but a minute later by Bahraini Ismael Abdullateef's header to instead send Bahrain through to playoffs with Oceania champion New Zealand. A win in that will ensure Bahrain a place in the 2010 World Cup. Knowing that only a win or a scoreless draw would suffice, the Saudis threatened early, and supporters rose to their feet as early as the 5th minute when Nasir Al-Shamrani glided past an opposition defender to cross to Al-Qahtani, but the Bahraini defense was alert to the danger. Further counter-attacks from Al-Shamrani and Yasser Al-Qahtani increased the pressure on the visitors as the Saudis settled into a rhythm, the only threat represented by a third-minute free-kick sent straight at Saudi custodian Waleed Abdullah, who beat the effort away. Al-Qahtani threatened two minutes later in response, his shot from inside the box couldn't find its way through the crowd and the danger was cleared. The early pressure from the Green Falcons finally told in the 13th minute when Al-Shamrani finished off a slick three-player move with instant touches sending the ball to the feet of Al-Shabab striker, who finished off with an agonizingly light touch from close range. The visitors failed to mount a sustained response, the closest effort coming from Hussein Abdullateef in the 21st minute when he eluded the Saudi defense to enter the box but was foiled by a last ditch tackle from Osama Hosawi. Four minutes before the end of the first half, however, Bahraini striker Jaycee John found himself all alone in the box and was left with a simple finish after Abdullah Omar's cross made its way past its intended recipient, leaving the Saudi defense stranded. Saudis almost went up immediately, however, when with one minute left before the break right-back Abdullah Shuhail smartly left one defender for dead only to have his shot blocked. As the teams came out for the second half, the home crowd expected the Falcons to continue in the same vein, but were to be disappointed. A half paralyzed by midfield congestion and both teams unable to carve out any clear openings – with the exception of John who when left one-on-one with Abdullah shot straight at the keeper allowing him to push the ball over the bar – suddenly came to life with two goals in the first minutes of injury time. Al-Muntashiri's goal in the 91st sent the stands into raptures and victory seemed assured, but a mere two minutes later Abdullateef rose to beat the Saudi defense to the ball and head Bahrain an inch closer to South Africa, and Saudi Arabia back to the drawboard for another five years. __
