FOOTBALL – Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya claimed their first victory of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League (ACL) Two last night while national champions Muharraq suffered a tough third defeat.
Khaldiya battled back from a goal down to defeat Al Wahda FC of the UAE 2-1 in their away Group A contest at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Man of the Match Saif-Eddine Bouhra from Morocco netted the winner for the Bahrainis with just over a quarter-hour remaining in regular time.
Muharraq, on the other hand, conceded thrice in the second half in a disheartening 0-3 home loss to Al Jazira Club, also from the Emirates, in a physical affair at the National Stadium in Riffa.
The results kept both of the kingdom’s sides still with a mathematical chance – although slim – of making it through to the ensuing knockout stage with two fixtures to play each in the preliminaries.
The ACL Two is the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) second-tier club competition.
Khaldiya and Muharraq are the Bahraini representatives for the second straight year and they are part of a 32-team roster in this ongoing group phase, which continues until December 9.
Both Bahraini sides are back in action for their penultimate assignments on November 25.
In Khaldiya’s triumph, following a goalless first half, Wahda’s Christian Benteke opened their account in the 55th minute but Gleison Wilson da Silva Moreira brought the Bahrainis back on level terms just 12 minutes later.
Moreira tapped in from close range on the right of the area after pouncing on a cross from the left delivered by teammate Mohammed Al Rumaihi.
Khaldiya then took the lead in the 72nd minute when Bouhra headed in from close range.
His attempt was a weak one, and it came off a cross from the right sent in by Domagoj Drozdek.
Bouhra hit it enough to bounce into the net past Wahda custodian Facundo Insfran Lirussi.
Mohammed Elgharably made a crucial save for the Bahrainis in second-half injury time, stopping a shot from point-blank range by Wahda’s Mohammad Ghorbani off a set piece.
Khaldiya claimed the full three points to improve to four but they remained in last place on the Group A table.
Wahda were handed their first defeat as they stayed on nine in first.
In yesterday’s other divisional clash, PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan beat Kuwait SC of Kuwait 3-2 at Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium in Sulaibikhat.
Meanwhile, scoring for Jazira against Muharraq were Vinicius Mello in the 63rd minute, Bruno Conceicao six minutes later, and Igor Serrote in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Muharraq had multiple chances to score, especially in the first 45 minutes.
Arthur Rezende and Hussain Abdulkarim had strikes that were on target late on, but they were saved by Jazira goalkeeper Ersin Destanoglu.
Muharraq’s third loss kept them on just three points while Jazira improved to 10 with their third win to secure their place in the ACL Two’s last 16.
The contest featured a brief scuffle between multiple players from both teams following some physical play between Muharraq’s Elliot Jorge Simoes Inacio and Jazira’s Mamadou Coulibaly.
Also yesterday in Group B, FC Arkadag of Turkmenistan claimed a 1-0 home win against Golgohar Sirjan SC of Iran at Arkadag Stadium.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh