Riyadh - A last-gasp goal by substitute Ismaeel Latif gave Bahrain a 2-2 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia and saw the side through to the play-off against New Zealand. The first match between the two third-placed teams from the Asian groups ended in a goalless draw in Bahrain on Saturday and Bahrain qualified for the play-off against the Oceania winners on the away- goal rule.
Nassir Al Shamrani, who plays for the Saudi club Al-Shabab opened the scoring for the home side in the 13th minute, only to see Nigerian born Jaycee Okwunwanne equalize two minutes before the break.
Bahrain's Czech coach Milan Macala brought on Ali Abdulwahab, Latif and Mahmood Abdulrahman in the second half, but it was defender Hamad Al Montashari who thought he had given the home side the victory with a goal a minute into second half injury time.
Saudi fans thought the Al-Ittihad player had given their side a shot at a fifth World Cup participation, but Latif, who plays for Al- Arabi in the Qatari league broke their hearts with a headed winner goal for the visitors five minutes into injury time after a Salman Isa corner.
Bahrain, who have never qualified for the World Cup finals, are now just two games away from making it to Bahrain.
