Muharraq Crowned King’s Cup Champions

Riffa Left Frustrated as Red Wolves End Six-Year Drought

Muharraq are King’s Cup champions for the 20th time after beating Riffa 2–1 at Bahrain National Stadium yesterday in the 49th edition of the final. The match carried added weight given Riffa’s victory over Muharraq in February’s Khalid bin Hamad Cup final, but this time Fernando Santos’ side delivered the response they were searching for.

Muharraq struck first through Mohammed Al Hardan, before Riffa equalised via an own goal from Soufiane Mahrouk, with Elliot Simoes scoring the second-half winner. The result secures Muharraq the competition’s top prize of 100,000 BHD, with Riffa collecting 50,000 BHD as runners-up.

Respectful start  

Before kick-off, both teams walked out alongside frontline personnel who had served the Kingdom during recent difficult circumstances, a gesture that set a respectful tone inside the stadium before the football took centre stage.

Muharraq began the brighter side. Elliot Simoes had an early sight of goal in the second minute after being played in behind, but his effort was blocked and cleared for a corner. Edimar Ribeiro da Costa also looked sharp in the opening exchanges, linking play well and probing the Riffa defence, while Gervasio Olivera tested range with a long-distance volley that sailed over.

Riffa, however, struck first against the run of play. In the 12th minute, Wellington Moreira delivered an inswinging corner and Soufiane Mahrouk inadvertently turned the ball into his own net under pressure, handing Mohamed Mashaan’s side the opening goal.

The match soon became disrupted for Riffa. Jassim Al Shaikh was stretchered off in the 20th minute after suffering a fracture in the upper chest area, forcing an early reshuffle. Dejan Georgovic also departed shortly after in a double substitution that unsettled their structure.

After that, the Red Wolves got their teeth into the game. In the 28th minute, Mohammed Al Hardan reacted quickest to a loose ball after a corner was cleared and struck a sensational volley past Riffa goalkeeper Dziugas Bartkus to make it 1–1.

Missed chances  

Soon after, the match turned into an end-to-end contest, delivering plenty of excitement for the thousands in attendance. Rodrigo Yuri went close for Riffa from a similar set-piece situation, while Muharraq’s Edimar da Costa continued to threaten at the edge of the area, narrowly missing the target in the 33rd minute.

Muharraq then came within inches of taking the lead before half-time. Edimar Ribeiro da Costa held off pressure in the box and squared for Abdulwahab Al Malood, who had the goal at his mercy from just a couple of yards out, but he blazed over with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Moments later, Muharraq did have the ball in the net when Soufiane Mahrouk was played through and finished well, but the assistant’s flag cut short the celebration for offside. At the interval, the match remained level at 1–1, with Muharraq left to reflect on a major missed opportunity.

Second-half breakthrough

After the break, they wasted no time in pressing again, and thought they had taken the lead just after the restart. Edimar finished calmly after rounding the goalkeeper, but VAR intervened, ruling the goal out following a foul in the build-up involving Ali Haram and Soufiane Mahrouk.

The reprieve did not last long for the Blues. In the 49th minute, Muharraq struck the winner. Elliot Simoes found space despite being surrounded by three defenders and drove a powerful shot into the near post, restoring Muharraq’s lead at 2–1.

From there, Riffa pushed forward but struggled to create clear chances in open play. The game instead turned on key penalty decisions and VAR checks. In the 76th minute, Vincius Vargas went down under a challenge from Mahrouk on the edge of the box. Referee Ahmed Khalil reviewed the play but waved away appeals for a penalty.

Deep into stoppage time, Riffa had another penalty claim dismissed after Ebrahim Al Khalasi accidentally struck Wellington Moreira while attempting to clear the ball. The referee was again sent to the monitor, but the incident was ruled offside in the build-up, ending Riffa’s final push.

Muharraq Hold On

As the final whistle sounded, Muharraq’s bench poured onto the pitch to celebrate a hard-earned victory after a strong second-half display. It was not a straightforward performance, with missed chances and sustained pressure from Riffa, but Simoes’ winner ultimately proved decisive.

For Portuguese manager Fernando Santos, it is a significant triumph over a familiar rival and a measure of redemption after recent cup disappointment. As for Riffa, it was a missed chance to complete a domestic double, as Muharraq lifted the King’s Cup for a record 20th time — their first since the 2019–20 season.

Captain Waleed Al Hayyam goes to lift the King’s Cup title

Muharraq supporters in full voice at Bahrain National Stadium

Emotional celebrations at full-time