Abdullatif joins record books

DOHA - Bahrain striker Ismaeel Abdullatif Friday shot his way into the Asian Cup record books when he scored four goals in his side’s 5-2 victory against India in a Group C match played in the Al-Sadd stadium.

The 24-year-old joins Iranian players Behtash Fariba (1980 during the 7-0 win against Bangladesh) and Ali Daei (1996 during the 6-2 win against South Korea), who previously scored four goals in a single match.

Faouzi Aaish opened the scoring for Bahrain from the penalty spot in the eighth minute, but Gouramangi Singh leveled matters just a minute later.

Abdullatif scored his first in the 16th minute after a mistake from Indian goalkeeper Subratra Paul and then added a second just three minutes later after being found by a cross from John Jaycee.

In the 35th minute the striker, who plays his club football for Al Riffa, made sure of his hat-trick.

Sunil Chhetri pulled another back for India after the break and Bahrain then had Aaish sent off with a second yellow card after taking a dive in the Indian area.

In the 77th minute Abdullatif - who famously scored a dramatic last-gasp goal against Saudi Arabia in September 2009 that saw his side qualify for the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup finals, which they lost to New Zealand - scored his fourth of the match with a long-range effort that gave Paul no chance.

Nine players have scored hat-tricks at the finals in the history of the Asian Cup.