Al-Khaldiya Cruise Through, Penalties Break East Riffa’s Hearts

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s football faithful woke up on the first day of Ramadan to a quarter-final finale that had it all: a goal-fest, a goalkeeper’s moment of madness, and a penalty shootout dripping with drama. The 2024-2025 His Majesty the King’s Football Cup now has its Golden Square, and it’s Al-Khaldiya and Riffa who’ve punched their tickets after Friday’s matches, setting up blockbuster semi-finals against Muharraq and Sitra come April.

Al-Khaldiya’s Goal Machine Rolls Over Al-Hala

Al-Khaldiya dismantled Al-Hala, 6-2, in a performance that felt more like a training drill than a cup tie. From the fourth minute, when Mahdi Abduljabbar fired them ahead, you could sense Al-Hala were in for a long night. Nizar Al-Rashdan was next, twice in five minutes—making it 3-0 before the half-hour mark. Abduljabbar grabbed his second just before the break, and Al-Hala’s heads were already spinning.
The second half was more of the same. Mohammed Al-Romaihi joined the party in the 66th, and Ali Azaizeh capped it in stoppage time, turning a win into a rout. Al-Hala’s Mamadou and Ali Jamal did manage replies, but they were consolation crumbs in a game Al-Khaldiya owned from whistle to whistle. Next up: Muharraq in the semis.

Speaking exclusively to TDT, Al-Khaldiya forward Mehdi Humaidan reflected on the commanding display. “The dominance came down to our squad being stronger that night—both in personnel and preparation, meeting Asian and regional standards,” he said. Looking ahead, Humaidan’s focus is clear: “The semi-final against Muharraq is a must-win for us.”

Riffa Survive East Riffa’s Late Heroics

If Al-Khaldiya’s night was a stroll, Riffa’s was a scrap—and what a scrap it was. Facing off against neighbours East Riffa, this quarter-final was pure theatre: 2-2 after extra time, a goalkeeper scoring, and a penalty shootout that swung like a pendulum. Sami Friwi and Wellington had Riffa dreaming of a smooth ride with their goals, but East Riffa’s Wilson Alex kept them honest with one back.
Then came the moment nobody saw coming. Deep in the second chunk of extra time, East Riffa’s goalkeeper Marin—yes, the man between the sticks—charged upfield and smashed home a historic equaliser. Cue pandemonium. The stadium erupted, East Riffa’s bench lost their minds, and it looked like they’d snatched momentum heading to spot-kicks.

But football’s a cruel game. Step forward Abdulkarim Fardan, Riffa’s substitute keeper, thrown into the deep end for the shootout. With East Riffa smelling victory, Fardan stood tall, swatting away their eighth and ninth penalties like he’d been waiting for this all season. Riffa clinched it 7-6, and while their fans roared, East Riffa’s players sank—gutted after blowing a golden chance in a shootout they’d twice led. Sitra await in the semis, and Riffa’s knack for surviving chaos might just carry them further.

The Road to April

So here we are: Al-Khaldiya vs. Muharraq and Riffa vs. Sitra, locked in for April 9 and 10. Al-Khaldiya’s firepower looks unstoppable, but Muharraq’s grit could make it a classic. Riffa, buzzing off that penalty high, will fancy their chances against a Sitra side yet to reveal its full hand in this cup run. Friday’s drama has left us with two tales—one of dominance, one of defiance—and a semi-final stage that’s got Bahrain buzzing.

For East Riffa, it’s the what-ifs that’ll sting longest: Marin’s magic moment, undone by those missed kicks. For Al-Hala, it’s back to the drawing board after a hiding they won’t forget. As Ramadan begins, the King’s Cup is serving up football worth fasting for.