Muharraq, Al Khaldiya power through

TDT | Manama                                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Muharraq and Al Khaldiya last night punched their tickets to the semi-finals of the 2023/2024 His Majesty the King’s Cup—the richest football tournament in Bahrain.

Muharraq advanced with a 5-4 penalty shootout triumph against Riffa in a thrilling encounter between two of Bahrain’s football heavyweights. The match was deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of regular and extra time.

Khaldiya, meanwhile, booked their berth following a resounding 4-0 victory over Al Ettihad. Muharraq and Khaldiya are now set to meet in the final four in a hugely exciting fixture that has yet to be scheduled by the Bahrain Football Association.

The HM the King’s Cup is the richest football competition in the Kingdom, with the winners set to take home BD100,000 in prize money and BD50,000 going to the runners-up. Matches in the competition’s quarterfinals continue tonight.

Manama face off with Al Ittifaq while Busaiteen take on Al Ahli. Both games are scheduled for 5.30 p.m. kick-offs at separate venues. In Muharraq’s tight victory, Riffa’s Bahrain national team star Komail Al Aswad put his side ahead just two minutes after half-time with a fine low volley from close range.

He slotted home off a cross from the left supplied by Vinicius Vargas Dos Santos. Muharraq equalised in the 54th minute when Abdulla Al Khalasi hit a stunning left-footed strike from several metres outside the penalty area. His shot came after the ball was cleared off a corner-kick, and it bounced into the net past Riffa goalkeeper Abdulkarim Al Fardan. Neither team could find the net in extra-time, paving the way for the decisive shootout.

There, Riffa’s Ali Hassan Saeed and Muharraq’s Ahmed Al Sherooqi got their respective sides off to a positive start, and then Ali Haram and Hassan Al Karani also converted. But Lazar Dordevic misfired for Riffa, and Nasser Mohammed put Muharraq ahead.

Abdulaziz Khaled kept Riffa alive, before Abdulwahab Al Malood coolly sent home for a 4-3 Muharraq advanatge. Al Aswad tied it one last time, and then Waleed Al Hayyam sent Muharraq through with his game-ending penalty.

In Khaldiya’s match, the victors enjoyed a brilliant start after opening their account less than 20 seconds after kick-off. Dominique Mendy was the scorer, sending in a floating shot over opposing goalkeeper Mahboob Yahya Al Dosari.

Khaldiya then doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime when Abdulla Al Hazza headed in from close range after Al Dosari failed to punch the ball away to safety.

His attempt to clear went directly towards a waiting Al Hazza in front of goal, and the Khaldiya defender took advantage. Mahdi Humaidan made it 3-0 with a penalty in the 66th minute. Khaldiya were awarded the spot kick after a foul by Ettihad’s Emeka Francis Atuloma on Gleison Wilson Da Silva Moreira.

Humaidan stepped forward to take the shot, and he made no mistake with his effort. Mahdi Abduljabbar made it four for Khaldiya, scoring two minutes from full time after rounding the keeper on a one-on-one and tapping the ball into an empty net.

Veteran Ismaeel Abdullatif could have made it five for Khaldiya after Waleed Al Tayeb was brought down in the box by Ettihad’s Haider Abdulla. But he missed his retaken penalty shot.