FOOTBALL – Muharraq overcame Al Khaldiya 1-0 in the second semi-final of the King Cup at the Khalifa Sport City Stadium last night to reach their first final since 2019-20 when they beat Hidd to clinch their 33rd title.
They will now play Al Ahli, who beat Manama 3-1 in the first semi-final last Sunday, in the final on March 9.
Muharraq’s victory was set up by Tunisian centre-forward Firas Chaouat, who displayed great skills to score the game’s only goal in the 61st minute.
The 2019-20 champions had been awarded a free kick just to the right of the Khaldiya box. Midfielder Abdulwahab Al Malood stepped up to take it and sent the ball curling towards the goal only for goalkeeper Mohammed Al Gharabli to jump up and try to grab it.
But the ball bounced out of his grasp and Chaouat, who was only a few yards away, unfurled a left-footed kick that sent the ball screaming over Al Gharabli, whose momentum had caused him to fall to the ground, and into the net.
The ground erupted with huge cheers from the Muharraq supporters who had packed into the stands as the players celebrated ecstatically.
But there was still almost half an hour left to play and Khaldiya had every chance of being able to score an equaliser in that time. And they almost managed to do so in the 67th minute but Brazilian forward Gleison Da Silva’s powerful strike from the right sailed high and harmlessly over the Muharraq goal.
Eighteen minutes later, Khaldiya had another chance when Ismail Abdullatif ran unmarked into the Muharraq box and had only veteran goalkeeper Sayed Mohamed Jaafar to contend with but his powerful attempt cannoned off the keeper’s arm.
With six minutes of stoppage time added on after the regulation 90 minutes were up, Muharraq had a great opportunity to go 2-0 up when Chaouat passed the ball calmly to Waleed Al Koori at the top of the Khaldiya box but his left-footed kick sent the ball wide of the right post.
Three minutes later, Muharraq were awarded a penalty when Chaouat was brought down in the Khaldiya box by a brutal tackle from behind by Ahmed Bughamar and Zahir Al Aghbari walked up to the spot to take it.
The Muharraq fans, who outnumbered the few Khaldiya supporters in the ground, had already begun their victory chant and, even though, Al Aghbari’s weak right-footed attempt was saved by Al Gharabli diving to his left, they weren’t dismayed since they knew there were only a few seconds left on the clock.
And, sure enough, as soon as the ball was in play again, the final whistle sounded, triggering vociferous celebrations in the stands and on the field with the Muharraq players doing a lap of honour to thank their supporters.
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