Late Drama in Bahrain: Adama Diallo’s 88th-Minute Winner Sends Al Wasl Top in AFC CL2
22 October 2025
Match summary
Al Wasl of the UAE clinched a dramatic 1-0 victory against Muharraq of Bahrain on Wednesday night at Sheikh Ali bin Muhammad Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, Bahrain, in the AFC Champions League 2 Group A third round of the 2025-2026 season.
The decisive moment arrived when Adama Diallo scored in the 88th minute, delivering three valuable points and keeping Wasl atop the group with a perfect record.
Wasl moved to 9 points from three games, extending their flawless start, while Muharraq remained on 6 points in second place.
Esteghlal of Iran sat third with three points, followed by Al-Wehdat of Jordan at the bottom with zero after three matches, narrowing their hopes of progression.
Wasl maintained a comfortable lead in the group and are now just a step away from securing a place in the Round of 16, following in the footsteps of UAE rival Al Sharjah who lifted the title in the previous edition.
Second half: cautious duels and a late heartbreak
In the second half, both sides approached with caution, knowing any mistake could cost them. Muharraq pressed more as the match wore on, while Wasl relied on solid defense and quick breaks, especially after the introduction of Adama Diallo and Nicolás Jiménez to energize the attack.
The best Muharraq chances came from a long-range effort that narrowly missed the target, while Wasl had the clearest moment in the 75th minute when Jiménez's free-kick cracked the crossbar.
Then, in the closing minutes, Wasl finally found the breakthrough as a through-ball from Serginho sent Adama Diallo clear, and he finished confidently to the right corner, sealing the win.
Muharraq pushed for an equalizer, but Wasl's defense and goalkeeper held firm, and the match finished with Wasl victorious on the road.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, Wasl are in a strong position to advance to the knockout stage, with a final group game at the same venue in Dubai on November 5 against Muharraq. The top two teams from the group advance to the Round of 16, so Wasl will aim to seal progress in the next fixture.
In the same group, Esteghlal sits in third with three points, while Al-Wehdat sits bottom without points, both chasing salvation in the competition. The group standings remain tight as teams prepare for the decisive rounds.
All in all, Wasl's performance reinforced the UAE's growing strength in Asian club football and gave their fans something to smile about after a tense night in Manama.
Final notes
Punchline 1: If football were a sniper scope, Wasl would always aim for the last-minute boom.
Punchline 2: In Bahrain, the clock isn’t the hero—Adama Diallo is, and the scoreboard just files the witnesses.
