RIFFA lifted the 2019 Bapco Super Cup last night following a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Manama at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
The match was deadlocked 1-1 at the end of regular time.
Goalkeeper Kareem Al Fardan was the hero for Riffa, saving Manama’s first two penalties before his teammates sealed victory in four shots.
Al Fardan stopped the attempts of Manama’s Mahmood Abdulrahman and Isa Khalid while Isa Mousa and Isa Jehad were on target.
For Riffa, Habib Haroon opened their account and Mohammed Saleh, Ali Haram and Bahrain national team star Komail Alaswad finished the job.
During regular time, Manama had a dream start as they were awarded a penalty after just five minutes. Brazilian striker Marcio Barbosa was brought down in the box as he tried to create a scoring opportunity.
He picked himself up to take the spot kick and sent the ball into the bottom-right corner of goal.
Manama’s celebrations were short lived, however, as Riffa levelled the scores. Alaswad continued his recent scoring streak in international play with the equaliser in the 25th minute.
Alaswad scored from an acute angle, receiving the ball on the left corner of the area before hitting a powerful curling shot that deceived the Manama goalkeeper.
Both teams tried hard to find a winner in the final 45 minutes and both had a few chances, but neither could find the finishing touches to convert.
Earned
The result earned Riffa their first-ever Super Cup title. They had previously appeared in the one-off match twice in the past, first in 2007 and again in 2014, but lost both times.
Manama, on the other hand, were gunning for their second trophy after previously winning it in 2017. It was also their first appearance in the event.
Last year’s champions Muharraq still own the record of most Super Cup wins with three, while Al Najma and Hidd have two apiece and East Riffa one.
Following the Super Cup, the Nasser bin Hamad Premier League is now scheduled to kick off on Friday.
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