Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League clubs East Riffa and Bahrain Club both barged into the round of 16 last night in the 2024-25 His Majesty the King’s Cup.
East Riffa booked their place following a 2-0 victory over A’ali, while Bahrain Club advanced with a 4-0 rout of Busaiteen.
Also marching through yesterday were Bahrain Second Division sides Budaiya and Al Hala.
Budaiya edged past Al Ettihad 3-2 to claim their berth in the last 16, while Hala ousted Galali 3-0.
East Riffa now move on to face Manama in the next stage, while Bahrain Club will go up against Riffa. Budaiya will next face off with Muharraq, and Hala will lock horns with Al Najma.
The His Majesty the King’s Cup is the richest annual football tournament in the kingdom. It is played in single-elimination format.
Another four fixtures in the preliminary round are scheduled for this evening, all kicking off at 7pm at separate venues. Ittihad Al Reef take on Umm Al Hassam, Malkiya play Hidd, Buri face Tadhamun, and Isa Town go up against Al Ettifaq.
They will all be vying for spots in the round of 16, with the winners of the Ittihad Al Reef-Umm Al Hassam game moving on to face two-time defending league champions Al Khaldiya. The winners of the Malkiya-Hidd match next take on Al Shabab, the winners of Buri-Tadhamun contest will play Sitra, and the winners of Isa Town-Ettifaq affair move on to face His Majesty the King’s Cup holders Al Ahli.
Matches in the final 16 have yet to be scheduled by the Bahrain Football Association.
In East Riffa’s victory last night, Brazilian Walisson Alex Souza Silva opened the scoring with a 63rd minute header. Argentinian Gonzalo German Cordoba then sealed their victory with a goal in the 81st minute.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Joel Vinicius Silva Dos Anjos and Sultan Mansoor both finished with a brace in Bahrain Club’s big win over Busaiteen.
Dos Anjos scored his goals just five minutes apart in the first half, with his first coming in the 22nd minute. Mansoor then added his first a minute before the end of regular time, and then slotted home a fourth for his team from close range in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.
In Budaiya’s triumph against Ettihad, an Ali Khalil own goal gifted Budaiya the early advantage in the 10th minute, but Muhammad Hassan was able to equalise just two minutes later. Brazilian Adriano Soares Filgueira then scored three minutes before the half to put Budaiya back in front, and then Nasser Mohammed was on target in the 55th minute to virtually ice the game at 3-1. Ettihad were able to add another consolation four minutes from regular time.
In Hala’s victory, Moroccan Abdelmalek Ben-Dellal converted a 23rd minute header to put his team in front. Syrian Mohammed Malta then scored in the 67th minute, and then Nasser Ebrahim applied the nail in the coffin in the third minute of injury time to seal the 3-0 result for Hala.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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