HANDBALL – AL Najma powered into the final of the Bahrain Super Cup 2025 last night following a come-from-behind 35-33 victory over Al Shabab in a hugely exciting encounter that went into a penalty shootout at the Bahrain Handball Federation Arena in Um Al Hassam.
Najma moved one step closer to retaining the coveted trophy for the fifth year in a row and seventh time overall.
The two sides could not be separated by 60 minutes of intense play, as they were tied at 31-apiece to send the game into the decisive shootout.
There, opening goals from Hassan Al Samaheeji and Ahmed Almaqabi sent Najma on their way to their win, while star goalkeeper Mohammed Abdulhussain did his part with two key stops to give them an early cushion.
Adam Alnasheet fired in Shabab’s first penalty but veteran Mahdi Saad was on target for Najma, and after Abdulla Alsalatna brought Shabab to within 33-34, towering left back Hasan Madan sealed Najma’s triumph after sending the ball past Shabab custodian Qasim Alshowaikh.
Najma now await the winner of the competition’s other final-four clash between Al Ahli and Al Dair which will take place tonight at the same venue with a 7pm throw-off.
This year’s Bahrain Super Cup title-decider is then scheduled for Friday.
In last night’s thrilling clash, Najma had a strong start and took a commanding 6-1 lead following an Al Samaheeji goal. But Shabab fought back and drew level at 11-apiece heading into the final 10 minutes of the first half.
Shabab then took a brief 14-13 advantage following a Jassim Khamis conversion, and then later, Hussain Ali Khamis put them up 18-15 with only seconds remaining before the break. Najma’s Hassan Mirza answered, however, cutting their deficit to two heading into the locker rooms.
After the re-start, Shabab stayed in control for much of the concluding 30-minute period, as Khamis was on target once again for a 28-26 lead and less than nine minutes left on the clock. Najma stayed resilient and finally equalised on an Almaqabi goal for 28-all, and then Ali Fouad scored from the right wing to put them ahead.
After Khamis sent in a penalty, back-to-back goals from Madan and Mirza made it 31-29 for Najma with just over two minutes to play. But Khamis scored twice in the dying moments, including the tying penalty with no time remaining in regulation, sending the game into the shootout.
Najma have so far been dominant in the history of this competition, winning the prestigious trophy six times in its past seven editions. Their first was in the Bahrain Super Cup’s maiden event in 2017, which Najma followed with back-to-back crowns in 2018. Barbar were then the only other winners of the trophy in 2019.
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