BAHRAIN are contemplating protesting to football's governing body FIFA to have their 1-0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago disallowed and the match replayed.
Wednesday's victory gave T&T a 2-1 aggregate win in their two-match qualifying playoff series and a place in next year's World Cup for the first time.
They became the fourth Caribbean country to ever qualify, after Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, and just the second English-speaking country.
Yesterday, both Bahrain English newspapers had coverage of the match on their website. While the Gulf Daily News ran the headline: "End Of A Dream", the Tribune was more critical in its condemnation, with a commentary as its lead story on the front page. headed: "We Want A Rematch."
Writer Bikram Vohra went on to say: "Colombian referee Julian Oscar Ruiz is not the most popular man in Bahrain this morning. He failed to see what 40,000 fans saw and what TV replays confirmed. It was a goal fair and square."
The commentator was referring to a moment in stoppage time, when Bahrain striker Hussain Ali stripped T&T keeper Kelvin Jack of the ball as he was about to punt it down field. Ali put the ball in the net, but his effort was disallowed for infringement on the keeper.
The back page of the Tribune also read: "Complaint to go to FIFA."
Likewise, the Gulf Daily News confirmed that a protest to FIFA was likely. It said: "The Bahrain Football Association are to look into the action replay of Hussain Ali's disallowed goal before deciding on appealing to world governing body FIFA. The goal was ruled out by the Colombian referee deep into stoppage time in the second-half as he had blown the whistle by then for a foul. Ali had kicked the ball out of goalkeeper Jack's hands and scored. With the goal being ruled out, Trinidad won the second leg 1-0 for a 2-1 aggregate to advance to next year's World Cup in Germany."
In the post-match press conference, Bahrain coach Luka Peruzovic was visibly upset by the loss and seemed favourable to the idea of appealing.
"I was far away from the incident and from what I could see, the Trinidad goalkeeper lost the ball and Hussain scored," said Peruzovic. "A decision on an appeal will be made after looking at the video evidence.
"I want to be 100 per cent sure. If it is legal then I think the Bahrain Football Association should lodge an appeal," said Peruzovic.
In Bahrain yesterday morning, the mood was a sombre one as many discussed the occurrences the night before.
Many held on to the hope that a rematch could be granted, but a few acknowledge that Trinidad and Tobago were the better team and criticised the Bahrain coach for using defensive tactics and just a lone striker up front.
A day before, none of them could contemplate the thought of defeat. Approximately 30,000 Bahrain fans, most in red and some in traditional white Arabic wear, bore down on the stadium in Isa Town, which is about half hour away from the capital Manama. The scene was both intimidating and noisy as Arabic and African rhythms rang out all around, drowning out the pan being played among the 300 or so Trinidad and Tobago fans.
However, it must have been quite a shock to see Trinidad and Tobago take control and stroke the ball competently in the first half, forcing Bahrain deep into their own half.
Though not scoring in the first 45 minutes, T&T came close in the 22nd minute when Stern John got a sniff at goal but hit straight to the Bahrain keeper.
Twenty-year-old Southampton player Kenwyne Jones had a excellent showing up front, holding the ball well under pressure. He also had a chance in the 33rd minute when a feed from John gave him a left foot shot in the penalty area which looked headed for goal until it was deflected away at the last moment by a desperate lunge from the last Bahrain defender.
Pressured in midfield and up front, Bahrain struggled to trouble Trinidad and Tobago with any regularity.
Their best chance in the half came when Hussain Ali tried to catch T&T keeper Jack off his line with a long-range effort.
Jack also made a mess of collecting a looping ball from defender Hussain Baba, completely missing and then being rescued by defender Marvin Andrews, who headed the ball over the bar under pressure.
Trinidad and Tobago had lost Port Vale's Chris Birchall midway through the half due to injury, but Silvio Spann came in and, with Aurtis Whitley, did a good job of distributing the ball and breaking up the Bahrain attacks in midfield.
The Warriors' breakthrough finally came in the 49th minute through Dennis Lawrence's memorable header off Dwight Yorke's precise corner-kick to give his team victory.
For a while, Bahrain fell apart once behind and Trinidad and Tobago were able to create several chances on the break for John and Jones, who just could not finish off the home team.
Bahrain pushed up in a last desperate attempt by launching four forwards.
Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker countered by bringing on veteran midfielder Russell Latapy to cool thinks down and the Falkirk player also came close to giving his team a second goal when striking the crossbar from a wide left position inside the penalty area.
Bahrain's best chance at an equaliser came in the 77th minute when star striker Ala'a Hubail collected Talal Yousef's pass unmarked, but shot wide.
Down the stretch, Beenhakker also brought on another defender in Ian Cox to contain Bahrain, who were trying their best for an equaliser.
After Hussain Ali's goal was disallowed on the stroke of full time, Bahrain had one final chance in time-added-on when Ali let fly from outside the penalty area, but Jack tipped over his shot which was headed into the roof of the net.