Riffa, East Riffa look ahead to AFC Cup knockouts

TDT | Manama                                               

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The road to the finals of the AFC Cup 2022 has been determined, with Bahrain clubs Riffa and East Riffa both still in contention. The draw for the knockout stages has been held for the 12 teams still in contention.

The neighbouring Bahraini teams will be going head-to-head in the West Zone semi-finals on September 6. The other final four clash is between Al Arabi of Kuwait and Al Seeb of Oman in a game that will be played a day earlier in Kuwait City.

The winners of both ties will then face off in the West Zone Final on October 4, with the victor marching through to the AFC Cup Final on October 22 at a yet-to-be-determined venue.

Meanwhile, the other teams also competing from the ASEAN and Central Zones of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) are PSM Makassar from Indonesia, Kedah Darul Aman FC from Malaysia, Viettel FC from Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur City FC from Malaysia, FC Khujand from Tajikistan, PFC Sogdiana from Uzbekistan, Eastern Hong Kong Lions from Hong Kong and ATK Mohun Bagan from India.

Riffa and East Riffa both advanced past the group stage of the AFC Cup 2022 last May. Riffa secured their place in the knockouts after defeating Shabab Al Khalil of Palestine 3-1 in their final Group B match played in Kuwait.

East Riffa, on the other hand, drew 2-2 with Hilal Alquds, also from Palestine, but earned enough points in Group C to march through. Riffa finished as runners-up in Group B but were the best-ranked second-placed team in all three of the AFC Cup’s West Asian groups. East Riffa finished first in Group C to earn their automatic berth.