Muharraq defeated Budaiya 1-0, while Al Shabab beat Bahrain Club 1-0 in the first leg of King’s Cup last 16 round held last night at Bahrain National Stadium.
The win pushed last year’s runners-up Muharraq a step closer into the quarter-final.
Both teams failed to find their targets after the first half although Budaiya had a number of chances to score. Muharraq finally scored after just one minute from second half through Jamal Rashid’s brilliant header.
Budaiya had a chance to equalise in the 62nd minute, when Ahmed Al Sheroogi went to face Muharraq goalkeeper, but his shot was cleared by the defenders. Muharraq again came close to scoring in the 67th minute but Abdulla Abdo’s powerful shot from afar was saved by Budaiya goalkeeper Ahmed Meshama.
Budaiya’s last chance to score came in the injury time, when Muharraq defender Waleed Al Hayyam tried to clear the ball from the area, but hit the bar and saved by goalkeeper, as the match ended 1-0 for Muharraq.
Al Shabab’s goal came in the 21st minute of the first half when Sayed Ali Isa sent a powerful shot went straight into the net.
In other matches held at Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Al Hala defeated Malkiya 1-0, while Riffa and Busaiteen drew 2-2.
Al Hala scored a first-half goal through Brazilian Samuel to seal his team’s victory.
Busaiteen and Riffa’s match saw a thrilling ending. All the goals came in the second half as the first half ended goalless.
Riffa scored first in the 68th minute through Ali Haram but Busaiteen equalised in the 75th minute through ouj Benji.
Riffa found their target in the 85th minute through Kumail Al Aswad to take the lead 2-1 before Busaiteen equalised in the injury time through Ghanim Mesad, as the match ended in a draw.