FOOTBALL – TEN-man Muharraq barged through to the final of the 2025-26 His Majesty the King’s Cup last night following a hard-earned 2-1 victory against long-time rivals Al Ahli at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
Brazilian professional Arther Rezende and crafty playmaker Soufiane Saeed Mahrouk were on target on either side of the break for the victors, while Edimar Ribeiro da Costa Junior supplied the assists on both occasions.
Rezende put Muharraq ahead after only three minutes but was later sent off early in the second half for a dangerous play against Ahli’s Moroccan import Hamza Buihamghet. Mahrouk doubled his team’s advantage just minutes after Rezende’s dismissal, after which Abdulla Al Hashash gave Ahli their lone consolation.
With yesterday’s result, Muharraq move on to face Riffa in the title-decider of the kingdom’s richest annual football tournament, which has yet to be scheduled by the Bahrain Football Association.
Riffa claimed their berth following a thrilling 4-3 penalty shootout triumph against last year’s His Majesty the King’s Cup winners Al Khaldiya in the first semi-final, played Friday night. The two teams remained deadlocked at the end of regulation before each added a penalty to make it 3-3 after extra-time.
Muharraq will now be looking to add to their record 33 titles in the competition, although they last won in the 2019-2020 campaign. They have since made it to the championship match just once – in 2023-24 when they lost to Ahli on penalties.
Riffa will be gunning for their eighth tournament crown – third-best in the kingdom behind Muharraq and Ahli’s nine trophies. They last triumphed in 2020-21, also against Ahli.
In last night’s contest, Rezende fired in Muharraq’s opening goal after taking advantage of an Ahli error. Saud Husain Alasam made a poor back-pass to Buihamghet in their own half, allowing Muharraq’s Abdulwahab Al Malood to easily steal away possession. He passed to da Costa Junior, who then perfectly set Rezende up for his volley from the inside edge of the box. That was enough to put Muharraq in control at the interval.
After the re-start, Rezende was given his marching orders in the 51st minute when he inadvertently kicked Buihamghet in the face as he went for a clearance and Buihamghet challenged with his head. Following a VAR review, Rezende was given a direct red card, while Buihamghet needed to be tended to by Ahli medical staff.
Seven minutes later, Mahrouk doubled Muharraq’s advantage after a stunning through-pass from da Costa Junior. He threaded the ball between three Ahli defenders to Mahrouk, who was charging into the box. Mahrouk slotted home into the bottom-left corner of goal with his left foot while fighting off Ahli’s Alasam in the process.
Ahli struck back in the 68th minute when Al Hashash hit a left-footed volley from inside the area. He received the ball from Brazilian teammate Rodrigo Santos Varanda and made the most of his opportunity to cut into the deficit.
Ahli then appeared to be given a lifeline in second-half injury time as they called for a penalty after Waleed Al Hayyam allegedly pushed Sayed Mohamed Shubbar in the back as they were challenging for a free-kick into the box. But following a VAR review, the match referee did not give the spot kick, and Muharraq held on until the end.
Muharraq’s Serbian custodian Vladan Dekic made a crucial late save on a Husain Jaafar Haroona effort from the left of the six-yard box moments before the final whistle.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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