A match in the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers will occur on Thursday at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan, where Brunei will take on Yemen. Here’s a look at the betting outlook for this game, based on the recent performances of both teams.
Match Preview
Brunei surprised many by winning their last match against Bhutan 2-1, earning their first points in Group B. This victory ended a five-match winless streak. Brunei scored thanks to an own goal and a strike from Nazirudin bin Haji Ismail, showing good organization against the weaker side.
Currently, Brunei is in second place in the group, just one point behind leaders Lebanon. Despite their low FIFA ranking at 183, Brunei bounced back well from a heavy 0-5 loss to Lebanon in their opening match and now seems ready to aim for another surprise.
Yemen, on the other hand, is still unbeaten in the qualifiers, having recorded two goalless draws with Lebanon and Bhutan. The team has shown a strong defensive setup, managing to hold off one of the group favorites. Yemen’s approach focuses on defense, demonstrating commitment and discipline against stronger teams.
However, their inability to score in both matches raises questions about their attack. Ranked 154th in the FIFA World Rankings, Yemen is looking to make only their second-ever Asian Cup appearance, having debuted in 2019. To do this, “Al-Yaman as-Sa’id” needs to convert draws into victories.
Probable Lineups
- Brunei: Nyaring H., Shariff S., Aminuddin V., Aminuddin M. A., bin Hamir M. H., Aiman N., Ismail N., Hariz A., Saleh A., Azman H., Said A.
- Yemen: Aman, Al-Wasmani, Al-Zubaidi, Ghaleb, Al-Khubayshi, Masnum, Anbar, Al-Golan, Al-Dahi, Al-Matari, Al-Gahwashi
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Yemen and Brunei have met twice, with Yemen winning both matches (5-0 and 1-0 in 2002 World Cup qualifiers).
- Brunei ended a six-match winless streak with their 2-1 victory over Bhutan.
- Yemen has yet to score in two games but remains unbeaten (two goalless draws).
Prediction
Brunei has shown improvement as the tournament progresses, but Yemen appears more organized and consistent. Therefore, a bet on a narrow away win looks sensible. Expect Yemen to come out on top due to their better structure and motivation, with few goals anticipated in this match.