FOOTBALL – Al Khaldiya lifted last night the Bahrain Super Cup for the 2024-25 national football season.
Khaldiya secured the trophy following a resounding 5-2 victory over Al Ahli in the single-game affair, played at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
Four players were on target for the victors, who had four of their goals in a rampant first half.
Moroccan professional Nizar El Otmani spearheaded their side with a brace, while countryman Anas Ouahim, Gleison Wilson da Silva Moreira, and Bahrain national team star Komail Al Aswad also scored.
The result earned Khaldiya their third Bahrain Super Cup, after winning the event for a third straight edition.
Following the contest, under the generous patronage of Shaikh Faisal bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and in the presence of Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Bahrain Football Association president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Shaikh Faisal awarded the winners their respective prizes.
Khaldiya chairman Mahmood Janahi, along with veteran leaders Sayed Dhiya Saeed and Ismaeel Abdullatif received the Bahrain Super Cup from Shaikh Faisal.
Khaldiya were playing in yesterday’s match as winners of the 2023-24 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League, while Ahli claimed the His Majesty the King’s Cup that same season.
In last night’s affair, Khaldiya went ahead in the 12th minute with El Otmani’s opener.
A chipped pass from the right by Moreira had a slight touch by Al Aswad, perfectly setting up El Otmani, who sent in a volley from close range.
Only four minutes later, Khaldiya doubled their advantage when Moreira found the net from just outside the six-yard box.
He was on the receiving end of a short cross, this time supplied by El Otmani, and he made no mistake with his effort.
Ouahim then got in on the action with his goal in the 27th minute off an assist from Moreira.
Khaldiya then went 4-0 up on the stroke of half-time when El Otmani brilliantly evaded the challenge of Ahli’s Nigerian goalkeeper Michael Orefuwa in the box and fired into an empty net.
That gave Khaldiya their commanding cushion heading into the break.
After the re-start, the team in gold appeared to extend their advantage to five when Mahdi Abduljabbar sent in a stunning header, but the referee later disallowed his effort after a VAR review determined Abduljabbar was offside.
Ahli got a goal back in the 59th minute through Abdulla Al Hashash. He headed in from close range off a cross from the left delivered by substitute Sayed Mahdi Sharaf.
But Khaldiya restored the four-goal gap only five minutes on following a sensational Al Aswad free-kick from a few yards outside the box.
Al Aswad’s left-footed shot flew directly to the top-right corner of the net.
Second-half substitute Dominique Mendy could have added another goal for Khaldiya minutes before full time, but his header was kept out by the crossbar.
Sharaf instead made the most of his opportunity to show his prowess and reduce the deficit.
Playing a day after being called up for senior men’s football national team duty, Sharaf scored with a low, well-hit strike that made it past Khaldiya’s Portuguese custodian Ricardo da Silva, pegging the final score.
He thus made a positive impression in the game with an assist and a goal but in a losing effort.
The Bahrain Super Cup is a match traditionally played ahead of the start of a new national football season.
Last night’s game was one of two Bahrain Super Cups set to take place as part of the new campaign. The other, which will mark its 2025-26 edition, is scheduled for December 12.
Khaldiya will once again feature in that clash as last season’s winners of the His Majesty the King’s Cup. They will take on defending Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League champions Muharraq.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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