Riffa Hold Nerve Against Muharraq to Lift KHK Cup
TDT | Manama
Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com
Riffa claimed the 2025–2026 HH Khalid bin Hamad Cup yesterday at Bahrain National Stadium, edging league champions Muharraq 9-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time. HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa was in attendance to crown the champions, marking the second edition of the tournament and giving Riffa a moment of sweet redemption after last year’s defeat to Al Khaldiya in the inaugural final.
The match burst into life from the opening whistle, with early tension between the Brazilian players on both sides. Muharraq’s Edimar Ribeiro da Costa and Arthur Rezende clashed with Riffa’s Rodrigo Yuri and Wellington Moreira, setting the tone for a fiercely competitive encounter. In the fifth minute, Sofyan Mahrouk’s point-blank header was superbly saved off the line by Riffa goalkeeper Džiugas Bartkus, keeping the score level in a high-energy start.
Riffa gradually asserted themselves and took the lead just before halftime. Wellington Moreira’s darting run down the left wing allowed him to skip past Muharraq’s Abdulwahab AlMalood and Bruno Santos, delivering a low ball into the six-yard box where Ali Madan was on hand to tap in.
Muharraq responded early in the second half, with Arthur Rezende equalizing in the 62nd minute. Soufiane Mahrouk delivered a low cross from the right that Riffa failed to clear, and Rezende’s half-volley struck the ground before creeping past Bartkus. The goal sparked jubilant celebrations among the Red Wolves and their supporters, setting up a tense remainder of regular time.
Despite chances at both ends, the match remained deadlocked after 90 minutes, pushing the contest into extra time. Muharraq thought they had claimed the winner in the 111th minute when Edimar da Costa scored from Hasan AlKarani’s header, but VAR ruled the effort out for marginal offside, extending the drama into a penalty shootout.
The shootout proved a test of nerves, going into sudden death after flawless conversions. Riffa’s goalkeeper Bartkus emerged as the hero, saving Waleed AlHayyam’s effort before Mohamed Hamdaoui, the team’s new signing, calmly slotted home to secure a 9-8 victory.
The win delivers Riffa their first Khalid bin Hamad Cup title and a confidence boost as they stay close to Muharraq atop the Nasser Bin Hamad Premier League. Under Kuwaiti manager Mohamed Mashaan, their composure under pressure proved decisive, while Portuguese head coach Fernando Manuel de Jesus Santos’ Muharraq were left to rue missed chances. The KHK Cup win could prove pivotal, giving Riffa momentum and belief in their title ambitions.
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