FOOTBALL – A’ALI and Al Ahli both marched through last night to the quarter-finals of the 2025-26 His Majesty the King’s Cup – Bahrain’s richest annual football tournament.
A’ali outclassed Al Najma 2-0 at The Late Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, while Ahli beat Budaiya 4-2 in a tense penalty shootout after the game remained goalless at the end of regular time at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
Both of yesterday’s fixtures featured teams competing in the 2025-26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
With their victories, A’ali and Ahli completed the line-up for the elite eight in the single-elimination competition.
A’ali will next take on holders Al Khaldiya, while Ahli will face Bahrain First Division club Al Ettifaq.
In the other games of the quarters, defending premier league champions Muharraq lock horns with Al Shabab, while Riffa face off with Bahrain Club.
In A’ali’s win yesterday, Yazid Abdul-llah and Diego Cardoso Noguiera were on target on either side of half-time to help lift their team.
Abdul-llah put A’ali in front in the 31st minute with a shot from close range off a rebound, after an attempt by teammate Riyadh Adwikiki off a corner kick was blocked.
Following the re-start, Diego Cardoso Noguiera added A’ali’s second in the 52nd minute. He fired in from inside the area after a brilliant pass from British Virgin Islands professional Lyton Julius Ndukwu set him up perfectly for a single-touch effort.
Both A’ali and Najma had other opportunities to score over the remainder of the contest, but could not apply the finishing touches.
Meanwhile, in Ahli’s triumph last night, neither side could break the deadlock after 90 minutes – although both had opportunities – sending the affair directly into the shootout.
Ahli’s Rodrigo Varanda kicked things off by coolly converting the opening penalty while Budaiya’s Abdool Sadqo misfired with his kick, which was well off the mark. Ahli then went 2-0 up after Hussain Harona scored, but Budaiya’s Hamad Nasser was also on target to restore their single-goal deficit.
Ahli’s Faisal Hujair and Budaiya’s Abdulla Albahrani both made good on their penalties to make it 3-2, and then Hamed Junior Toure’s confident strike gave Ahli the 4-2 advantage.
Ahli goalkeeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi then sealed the win after saving the spot kick of Budaiya’s Ali Aldosari.
The HM the King’s Cup football tournament features teams from both the Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League and the Bahrain First Division. Games are played in knockout format.
Khaldiya won last season’s edition after edging past Sitra 3-2 in the tournament final, played in April of last year.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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