Manama, Al Ittifaq march through

TDT | Manama                                                    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Manama and Al Ittifaq last night completed the quarter-final lineup of the 2023/2024 His Majesty the King’s Cup football tournament. Manama advanced to the last eight after defeating East Riffa 4-0 in their round-of-16 clash, while Ittifaq edged past Hidd 4-1 in a penalty shootout after their match was deadlocked at 2-2 at the end of regular time.

Both winners will now face one another in the quarters, which have yet to be scheduled by the Bahrain Football Association. The other pairings in the competition’s next stage see Busaiteen take on Al Ahli, reigning league champions Al Khaldiya face Al Ettihad, and Riffa go up against Muharraq in an exciting titanic clash between two national giants.

The HM the King’s Cup is the richest football competition in the Kingdom, with the winners taking home BD100,000 in prize money and BD50,000 going to the runners-up. In Manama’s win last night, Elvis Marley Aparecido Bitten court was on target before the break and then Facundo Agustin Tobares and substitutes Suelynton Thiago Silva De Lima Brito and Welsen Junior Faustino De Melo scored late in the second half.

Bittencourt opened Manama’s account in the 22nd minute with a brilliant solo charge into the box to score from close range. Manama then enjoyed some luck prior to half-time, after Abdulwahab Ali brought down Ahmed Kory in the area, earning East Riffa a penalty.

But Thiago Augusto’s effort was masterfully saved by Manama goalkeeper Fayez Issa Al Rashidi to preserve their advantage. Manama made it 2-0 in the 77th minute. Tobares made no mistake with his shot after a perfectly timed assist from Ebrahim Al Khattal released him in the face of goal.

Brito scored Manama’s third in the 90th minute after a defensive error gave him a clear path towards goal, and De Melo applied the final nail in the coffin in the third minute of stoppage-time. Meanwhile, in Ittifaq’s triumph, a late penalty from Hidd, converted by captain Talal Al Sherooqi, right before the end of regular time sent the match into the shootout.

First-half goals forged a tie at the interval, with Ittifaq’s Agbomere Victory Omodiagbe scoring in the 13th minute on a quick counterattack after catching Hidd goalkeeper Abdulla Al Kaabi off his line, and Hidd equalising in 25th through Jacques Medina Iemopele, who guided the ball in after a shot from Obus Prince Aggreh flew past the face of goal.

Ali Hassan Muftah then fired in five minutes after the hour-mark to put Ittifaq back in front, but Al Sherooqi was able to keep his team alive with his penalty. In the shootout, Ittifaq converted their first four penalties, which was enough to seal the win after Hidd missed two of their opening three attempts.