FOOTBALL – BAHRAIN clubs Al Khaldiya and Muharraq dropped crucial points last night in their penultimate preliminary stage matches of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League (ACL) Two.
Khaldiya played to a goalless draw against PFC Andijon from Uzbekistan in their Group B clash at the Late Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Bin Isa Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, while Muharraq held Al Wasl FC of the UAE to a 2-2 stalemate at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai.
The ACL Two is the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) second-tier club competition – one level below the AFC Champions League Elite and one above the AFC Challenge League.
Khaldiya and Muharraq are amongst a 32-strong cast representing 22 AFC member associations who are playing in a home-and-away round-robin format.
After Khaldiya were unable to make the most of home field advantage against the visiting Uzbeks yesterday, they went to six points in second place on the Group B table, three ahead of Andijon.
Khaldiya’s final assignment will be against FK Arkadag of Turkmenistan in Arkadag on December 24. Both Andijon and Arkadag have a game in hand as they look to leapfrog the Bahrainis on the standings to earn a spot in the knockout stage.
Meanwhile, in Muharraq’s stand-off against Wasl, Edimar Ribeiro da Costa Junior put the visitors ahead after only two minutes with a goal from the centre of the box off a through-ball from Portuguese teammate Elliot Jorge Simoes Inacio. But Wasl’s Nicolas Gimenez was on target in the third minute of first-half stoppage time to send the match into the break level at 1-1.
Muharraq were back in front just four minutes after the re-start when Inacio struck from the centre of the penalty area following an assist by Brazilian Arther Rodrigues Rezende. The Emiratis were then able to secure a share of the points when Adryelson headed home off a cross after a corner kick.
With the result, Muharraq stayed second on the Group B table with seven points – three behind leaders Wasl, who have played a game less.
Muharraq are back in action against Esteghlal FC of Iran on December 24 at home in their final fixture of this stage.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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