Bahrain defeated Jordan 1-0 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday, with Group E winner Abdullah Yusuf scoring in the 11th minute to propel his team into the last 16. Bahrain scored their second win in three games before half-time, taking six points and taking the lead ahead of South Korea and Jordan, who also qualified. With this result, Bahrain will face four-time champions Japan in the next round. Jordan entered the game top of their group, but striker Moussa Al Tamari started on the bench and manager Rousanin Anmuta scored five goals. Changes were made to the team that ended in a 2-2 draw with South Korea in their last match. Anas Baniyaseen’s shot in the 14th minute missed Ebrahim Lutfallah’s goal, before Bahrain midfielder Mohamed Maroon’s looping shot was comfortably met by Yazeen Abulaila. Tentative start 15 minutes. Yazeen Al Naimat went even closer to the Jordanian and a few minutes later his snap shot flashed across the goal. It took until 34 minutes for the deadlock to be broken. The Bahrainis did. Yusuf timed his run perfectly from the halfway line, reacting to Komail Al Aswad’s pass through the middle and closing in on goal, curling his right-footed shot into the bottom corner of Abu Laila’s goal. Four minutes later, the striker Mlada Boleslav was released again. They were behind the Jordan defence, but while Baniyasheen initially recovered, possession went to Malhoun, who somehow cut his shot over the bar from inside the six-yard box. In the second half, Bahrain looked to extend their lead. Ali Madan fired a shot over the bar and Malhoun was narrowly beaten with a lofted pass over the top of the Jordan defense by the wary Abralila, who smashed the ball to safety. Jordan rarely threatened and Ali Orwan came closest with a header into the hands of Lutfallah. With the hour mark remaining and Bahrain snatching a point, Abraila was again on hand in the dying moments to deny Yusuf’s free-kick. (QNA)