Saudi Arabia 2-2 Bahrain

Bahrain displayed a never-say-die attitude ast hey secured a 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia at King Fahd International Stadium.

Substitute Ismail Abdullatif's dramatic injury-time strike meant Bahrain are two matches away from World Cup qualification.

The two sides had played out a goalless draw in the first leg of this play-off in Bahrain and it was the hosts that went ahead early on through Nasser Al Shamrani before Bahrain levelled in the 40th minute through Jaycee John.

It looked as though the visitors would hold firm for the draw that would be enough to send them through on away goals but Hamad Al-Montashari struck in injury time to seemingly secure the win for Saudi Arabia.

But Abdullatif immediately replied to secure a 2-2 draw that ensures Bahrain will tackle New Zealand in another play-off for a place at next year's World Cup.

The hosts took the lead in the 12th minute following a fine move that carved open the Bahrain defence. Yasser Al Qahtani played the ball for Mohammed Noor, whose first-time pass fell into the path of Al Shamrani and he shrugged off the attention of a defender to sweep home.

Bahrain drew level five minutes before the break when Abdulla Omar broke inside the area and fed a pass across the face of goal where John had the simple task of putting the ball into the net from close range.

However, it appeared Saudi Arabia had done enough to snatch the win when in stoppage time Al Qahtani successfully kept the ball in play at the edge of the area, hooking a cross back into the area where Al-Montashari was on hand to power a header into the back of the net.

But the home fans' hearts were broken soon after when Abdullatif headed home Salman Isa's corner to send Bahrain through.