Bahrain's Al Khaldiya and Muharraq both claimed impressive victories last night in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League (ACL) Two.
Ten-man Khaldiya defeated FK Arkadag of Turkmenistan 2-0 in their Group B clash at the National Stadium in Riffa, while Muharraq edged past Esteghlal FC of Iran 1-0 in Group A at Shahr-e-Qods Stadium in Tehran.
Khaldiya claimed their first victory in this season’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competition, while Muharraq remained unbeaten in their two games to date.
The ACL Two is the AFC’s second-tier club tournament – one level below the AFC Champions League Elite and one above the AFC Challenge League. Muharraq and Khaldiya are part of a 32-strong cast representing 22 AFC member associations who are playing in a home-and-away round-robin format in this preliminary stage.
In Khaldiya’s triumph yesterday, Congolese professional Joel Beya Tumuteka put the Bahrainis in front after 10 minutes with a fine volley on a quick counter-attack. Tumuteka was on the receiving end of a long pass from teammate Dominique Mendy, and he fired home with a single touch despite the tight marking of Arkadag defender Guychmyrat Annagulyyew.
Bahrain international star Komail Al Aswad then had a chance in the 15th minute that was blocked, and moments later, Khaldiya were lucky not to concede an equaliser following a gaffe by Mendy. He easily gave up possession with an errant back pass, which was collected by Altymyrat Annadurdyyew, who then charged towards the box. Khaldiya’s Malian professional Moussa Coulibaly pressured Annadurdyyew, but he was able to steer clear for a shot from the six-yard box. His effort was challenged just in time, however, by Ahmed Bughammar, and the ball bounced off the woodwork to safety.
Khaldiya went 2-0 up in the 39th minute when Gleison Wilson da Silva Moreira scored in similar fashion as Tumuteka’s opener. Moreira received a lobbed pass and after controlling the ball with his first touch, fired in with his second from close range.
Khaldiya’s Tumuteka scores their first goal as Annagulyyew defends
After the break, Coulibaly was sent off in the 53rd minute for a foul on Sanazar Tirkisow, leaving his team a man down with more than a third of the contest still to play.
Substitutes Mohammed Al Rumaihi and Moroccan Saif-Eddine Bouhra then had chances in stoppage time, but their shots were stopped by Arkadag custodian Rasul Caryyew.
With their victory, Khaldiya rose to the top of the Group B standings with four points. They are ahead of Al Ahli SC from Qatar and PFC Andijon from Uzbekistan, who have two points apiece following their goalless draw yesterday in Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, in Tehran, last season’s top scorer in Bahrain Edimar Ribeiro da Costa Junior supplied the match’s lone goal.
He was on target in the 60th minute following a one-two with Portuguese teammate Elliot Jorge Simoes Inacio, who supplied the assist from the left wing. The ball found its way through Esteghlal’s defensive cracks, and da Costa Junior pounced for the winner.
Muharraq were then saved from having to share the points when goalkeeper Ebrahim Luthfallah came off his line to challenge Moussa Djenepo with just three minutes left in regular time. His teammate Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia then had a shot that was kept out by Muharraq’s Lazar Dordevic just as it was about to enter an empty net.
Muharraq have thus yet to concede a goal this ACL Two campaign.
The Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League defending champions improved to six points and are second on the Group A table on goal difference. Al Wasl FC from the UAE remained in first after beating Al Wehdat of Jordan 2-1 in Amman in yesterday’s other divisional clash.
Khaldiya and Muharraq are both back in action on October 22, when Khaldiya face Andijon in Uzbekistan and Muharraq host Wasl at home.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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