AL ETTIHAD and Al Malkiya both squeezed into the quarter-finals of His Majesty the King’s Cup football tournament last night following nail-biting victories.
Ettihad registered a 4-1 penalty shootout win against Al Ahli after both second division teams played to a 3-3 deadlock at the end of extra-time at the Shaikh Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
Malkiya, on the other hand, defeated Bahrain Club 1-0 at the Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz.
With yesterday’s results, Ettihad became only the second club from Bahrain’s second division to book a ticket to the last eight of this year’s King’s Cup competition. The other was East Riffa.
Rounding out the other quarter-finalists were Premier League sides Malkiya, Manama, Hidd, leaders Busaiteen, last year’s King’s Cup losing finalists Riffa and reigning King’s Cup holders Muharraq.
In Ettihad’s tightly contested match with Ahli, both teams took the lead at certain points in the game but both also had answers.
Ettihad were the first to find the net through Hussain Ahmed in the 12th minute, but the Ahli’s Sayed Mahdi equalised in the 25th to leave it at 1-1 heading into the break.
Ahli’s Dutch defender Sergio later put his side ahead 2-1 in the 59th minute, only for Ettihad to level the proceedings once again with a late Ali Al Assar penalty on the stroke of full-time.
Ahmed Abed then put Ettihad back in front with a goal in the fifth minute of the extra session, but then Mahmood Abbas scored for Ahli with just seven minutes to play to make it 3-3 after 120 minutes of open play.
That paved the way for the decisive shootout which Ettihad won convincingly.
Meanwhile, Nigerian striker Dayo was on target for Malkiya in their narrow 1-0 win over Bahrain Club.
His 61st minute strike proved to be enough to separate the two premier league sides in the contest.
Following last night’s action, the Cup now heads into a month-long break before the quarter-finals take place on March 26 and 27.
Ettihad take on Busaiteen in one quarter-final scheduled to take place on the 26th. Muharraq face off with Hidd that same day.
Malkiya, meanwhile, lock horns with Riffa that following evening. Manama then take on East Riffa in the last quarter-final fixture.
The final four will then be held on April 14, while the final will follow four days later on April 18 at the National Stadium in Riffa. The title game will be held under the auspices of His Majesty King Hamad.