Al Najma claimed the 41st King’s Cup football title after defeating Muharraq 6-5 on penalties in a thrilling final held at the Bahrain National Stadium in Isa Town last night.
The full time ended 1-1.
This was Al Najma’s sixth King’s Cup title and last night’s victory was their first over Muharraq in a football final.
Al Najma’s 37-year-old coach Ali Ashoor has become the youngest coach to win a major football competition in the country.
Al Najma came close to scoring in the very first minute of the match, but Mahmood Essam’s header missed the bar by a whisker.
Al Najma scored in the 20th minute when a corner kick by Mahmood Essam found Kumail Abdulla who headed into the net past Muharraq goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaffar. They managed to maintain the lead until the end of the first half.
Muharraq went all out for an equaliser but their opponents resorted to counter attacks which gave them a number of chances to score.
Muharraq’s frustration grew as they wasted a number of chances to equalise and Al Najma defenders did a commendable job to hold the Muharraq strikers at bay.
Al Najma fans were already celebrating with the championship title in sight when Muharraq’s Ismael Abdullatif scored a brilliant goal in injury time. Abdullatif sent a powerful shot into the top right corner of Al Najma goalkeeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi to take the match into extra time.
Both teams failed to score in the extra time and the outcome was decided in a thrilling penalty shoot-out.
Al Najma’s goalkeeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi was the hero in the shootout, saving three penalty shots to help his team claim the title.
Muharraq fans’ hopes were raised when Al Najma missed the first two penalties and Muharraq led 2-0.
Al Najma’s goals were scored by Alexander Silva, Sayed Shubbar Alawi, Kumail Abdulla, Abdulaziz Khalid and Ahmed Abdulla while Mohammed Faris and Sayed Mahdi Baqer missed out.
Muharraq’s goals were scored by Jamal Rashid, Ali Jamal and Abdulla Abdo while Ismael Abdullatif, Abdulla Yousif and Zeyad Al Derbali failed in their attempt.
His Majesty the King’s representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented Al Najma team members with gold medals and the King’s Cup trophy. Muharraq team members received the silver medals.
His Majesty King Hamad sent a cable of congratulations to Al Najma Club Chairman Isa Hassan Al Qattan, board members as well as technical and administrative staff on winning the King’s Cup.
His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier and SCYS first deputy chairman and Bahrain Athletics Association president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa also sent similar cables.