FOOTBALL – Bahrain clubs Al Khaldiya and Muharraq both suffered losses against Emirati opposition last night in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League (ACL) Two.
Khaldiya went down fighting against Al Wahda FC 1-2 at the National Stadium in Riffa, while Muharraq squandered a two-goal half-time lead to fall 2-4 against Al Jazira FSC in Abu Dhabi.
The results continued the struggles for both of the kingdom’s outfits midway through the preliminary round of the continental tournament, which is the second-tier clubs competition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Both Khaldiya and Muharraq are back in action in the ACL Two on Wednesday next week with their return matches against the UAE sides.
Khaldiya face Wahda away at Al Nahyan Stadium in the Emirati capital while Muharraq will host Jazira at the National Stadium.
In Khaldiya’s home loss yesterday in Group A, the visitors took the lead in the 43rd minute with a low strike from Argentinian Facundo Kruspzky from just outside the penalty box.
After the interval, Khaldiya drew level in the 65th minute when Gleison Wilson da Silva Moreira fired in from inside the area off an assist from Moroccan teammate Saif-Eddine Bouhra.
Wahda regained the advantage, however, in the 75th minute when Alaeddine Zouhir slotted home from the face of goal following a corner kick.
That was enough to separate the two sides at the final whistle and Khaldiya’s hunt for their first win continues this ACL Two campaign.
They suffered their second defeat last night and stayed on one point.
Also in Group A yesterday, Kuwait SC posted a 1-0 away victory against PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan.
The Kuwaitis improved to six points with their second triumph while Nasaf stayed on one after their second setback.
Meanwhile, in Muharraq’s away match against Jazira at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, veteran skipper Abdulwahab Almalood scored both their goals in the opening 45 minutes to give them a commanding lead at the break.
Muharraq’s Amine Benaddi and Abdulla Alkhalasi battle for the ball with Jazira’s Vinicius Mello
Almalood was first on target with a header from close range after only three minutes.
He then completed his brace a half-hour later after taking advantage of some careless play from Jazira goalkeeper Ersin Destanoglu and defender Willyan Rocha.
Destanoglu sent a pass to Rocha, who in turn was looking to thread the ball to a teammate.
But his weak effort was intercepted by Almalood, who then fired into an empty net.
After the re-start, however, it was all downhill for Muharraq as the hosts came alive.
A sensational hat-trick from Brazilian winger Malcolm helped them secure the big result.
He first scored with a 52nd minute penalty and then equalised for the Emiratis just four minutes later.
Bruno Conceicao then fired Jazira ahead in the 68th minute, only four minutes before Malcolm completed his hat-trick and Jazira’s furious comeback with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to peg the final score.
With the result, Muharraq stayed third in the Group B standings with three points following their second setback in three outings.
Jazira scored their second victory to improve to seven.
FC Arkadag of Turkmenistan and Golgohar Sirjan SC of Iran played to a goalless draw in the other divisional clash.
Arkadag went to four points while Golgohar rose to two.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh