Muharraq through to AFC Cup zonal semis

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain‘s Muharraq advanced to the West Zonal semi-final of the AFC Cup 2021 last night following a 3-1 victory over Al Ansar of Lebanon. The match was played at King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Jordan, and the result earned Muharraq first place in Group B to complete this stage of the competition. Meanwhile, fellow-Bahraini side Hidd dropped out of further contention after losing to defending champions Al Ahed, also of Lebanon, 1-2.

That game was played in the Kingdom and it dropped Hidd to the last place in Group A. In the Zonal semi-finals, Muharraq and Ahed meet in one match, while Al Salt of Jordan face-off with Al Kuwait of Kuwait in the other. Those match-ups will be played over two legs each, with both legs scheduled to be held this September.

Muharraq and Hidd are the only two Bahraini clubs competing in this year’s AFC Cup, which is Asia’s secondary club tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This year’s winners automatically qualify for the 2022 AFC Champions League. Hidd and Muharraq are the only two Bahraini teams in this year’s competition.

In Muharraq’s win last night, three different players were on target for the Bahrainis. They had to fight back from an early deficit after Hassan Maatouk put Ansar ahead in the 17th minute. Sanad Saleh was the first to reply to Bahrain.

He scored with six minutes to go in the first half. He was on the receiving end of a fine through-pass from Ahmed Al Sherooqi, then evaded a defender and applied a cool finish past goalkeeper Nazih Asaad to bring Muharraq level.

Bahraini international striker Ismaeel Abdullatif then powered his team to the front, scoring just five minutes on, hammering the ball into the net to give Muharraq the one-goal advantage heading into the interval.

Muharraq confirmed their victory in the 81st minute when a swift counter-attack saw Abdulwahab Al Malood break free down the left and send a well-weighted cross for substitute Tiago Real. The Brazilian just needed to tap the ball in for Muharraq’s third of the night, applying the final nail in the coffin.

Standings (*advanced to West Zonal semi-finals)
Group A
                                 P         W        D         L          +/-    Pts
Al Ahed (Lebanon)*     2          1         1        0          1         4
Al Wahda (Syria)         2          0         2        0          0         2
Hidd (Bahrain)            2          0         1        1         -1          1
Group B                    P       W        D          L           +/-       Pts

Muharraq (Bahrain)*   3        2         0          1           2          6
Al Salt (Jordan)           3        2        0          1           5          6
Al Ansar (Lebanon)      3        1        0          2          -1          3
Balata (Palestine)        3        1        0          2          -6          3