Riffa Survive East Riffa's Late Heroics
If Al-Khaldiya's night was a stroll, Riffa's was a scrap—and what a scrap it was. Facing off against neighbours East Riffa, this quarter-final was pure theatre: 2-2 after extra time, a goalkeeper scoring, and a penalty shootout that swung like a pendulum. Sami Friwi and Wellington had Riffa dreaming of a smooth ride with their goals, but East Riffa's Wilson Alex kept them honest with one back.
Then came the moment nobody saw coming. Deep in the second chunk of extra time, East Riffa's goalkeeper Marin—yes, the man between the sticks—charged upfield and smashed home a historic equaliser. Cue pandemonium. The stadium erupted, East Riffa's bench lost their minds, and it looked like they'd snatched momentum heading to spot-kicks.
But football's a cruel game. Step forward Abdulkarim Fardan, Riffa's substitute keeper, thrown into the deep end for the shootout. With East Riffa smelling victory, Fardan stood tall, swatting away their eighth and ninth penalties like he'd been waiting for this all season. Riffa clinched it 7-6, and while their fans roared, East Riffa's players sank—gutted after blowing a golden chance in a shootout they'd twice led. Sitra await in the semis, and Riffa's knack for surviving chaos might just carry them further.
The Road to April
So here we are: Al-Khaldiya vs. Muharraq and Riffa vs. Sitra, locked in for April 9 and 10. Al-Khaldiya's firepower looks unstoppable, but Muharraq's grit could make it a classic. Riffa, buzzing off that penalty high, will fancy their chances against a Sitra side yet to reveal its full hand in this cup run. Friday's drama has left us with two tales—one of dominance, one of defiance—and a semi-final stage that's got Bahrain buzzing.
For East Riffa, it's the what-ifs that'll sting longest: Marin's magic moment, undone by those missed kicks. For Al-Hala, it's back to the drawing board after a hiding they won't forget. As Ramadan begins, the King's Cup is serving up football worth fasting for.
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