Ali Thameem
New Radiant Sports Club has reached the semifinals of the President’s Cup 2026, after defeating Club Eagles 2-1 this evening.
Coach Ali Suzain had shuffled the line-up ahead of today’s game, replacing Ali Fasir with winger Ahmed Husaam. Ibrahim Maisaan had replaced Mohamed Razaan as right back. Mohamed Irfan took up the armband in Fasir’s absence.
New Radiant’s Guilherme Da Silva broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. Building up from a throw-in from the right, Maisaan crossed in with a volley kick into the D-area, where Al Haji placed the ball with his chest for Da Silva to fire in. The shot took a huge deflection off Eagles defender Hisham Saleem, misdirecting the goalkeeper.
Hisham redeemed himself by giving the equalizing goal for Club Eagles, heading in a corner kick from Ibrahim Mahudhee in the final minute of first half. Just moments earlier, New Radiant had almost doubled the lead with a header from Al-Haji, but Eagles goalkeeper Mohamed Ashwaan had brilliantly reached the ball heading towards the top corner of the goal.
New Radiant’s Ali Ashfaq replaced Husaam as the second half kicked off, taking up the captain’s role. Just eleven minutes later, Ashfaq got himself an assist, setting up Da Silva for New Radiant to take back the lead.
New got multiple chances to widen the lead, including for Al-Haji who had beaten the goalkeeper only to hit it high and wide from a narrow angle. In the 89th minute, Ali Fasir had broken through and set himself up for volley from the D-area, only to misfire it.
Although Eagles have lost their opening game this evening, they still have the chance to make it to the semifinals. Since it is a three-team group, All Eagles have to do is beat Odi Sports Club in the next game. Notably, Eagles had held back Odi Sports Club in both of their clashes in the DPL this season. Odi had drawn with New Radiant in the opening day.
Tonight’s game will see Buru SC take on Victory Sports Club. Buru had lost to Maziya in the opening match of the President’s Cup.
