Himal Press 
File Photo
KATHMANDU: Bahrain hammered Nepal 5-0 in the 2nd Round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match played at the Bahrain National Stadium in Manama on early Friday morning.
The hosts took the lead in the very 2nd minute of the game as Mohammad Marhoon’s header found Mahdi Al Humaidan. Al Humaidan scored past the advancing Nepali keeper Kiran Chemjong to take his team one up.
Kiran saved Mahdi Abduljabbar’s strike in the 8th minute of the game. However, Bahrain doubled the lead from the ensuing corner. Defender Sayed Baker, positioned at the far post, scored from the corner to make it 2-0 for Bahrain.
Bahrain got its third in the injury time of the first half. Ali Madan scored from the rebound after Bahrain free-kick struck the woodwork. Although keeper Chemjong blocked his shot it somehow flew into the post.
Bahrain added two more goals in the second half. Ibrahim Al Khatal scored the fourth with a header in the 87th minute. Ismail Abdullatif scored his first and his team’s fifth from the penalty spot in injury time.
Defenders Abhishek Limbu and Saubhagya Rai debuted for Nepal in the match.
Nepal is goalless and pointless after three games of Group H which also includes Yemen and the UAE. Nepal conceded a 0-2 defeat against Yemen on November 21 last year, while UAE handed Nepal a 0-4 defeat on November 16 that year.
UAE leads Group H after winning all three games, while Bahrain is second with two wins and one loss, while Yemen is third with one win and two losses.
Nepal will face the second leg of the qualifier against Bahrain again in Manama on March 27 after AFC ruled Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu, unfit to hold international matches owing to poor pitch conditions. Likewise, it is scheduled to play its second leg matches against UAE on June 6 and against Yemen on June 11.
