FOOTBALL – AL Khaldiya romped to their second consecutive title in the Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League last night.
Khaldiya were crowned champions following an emphatic 7-0 drubbing of 10-man and relegation-threatened Al Hala in their week 21 contest of the 2023-24 season. The result earned them their 12th victory in 21 matches as they built a big enough lead over Muharraq on the standings to successfully wrap up their title-defence with one match still to play.
Muharraq were the only other team still with a chance of taking the champions’ trophy heading into yesterday’s games, but that quickly changed when Khaldiya – needing just a single point to secure the crown – hit in five of their goals during the first half alone.
Muharraq were also in action last night. They played to a 1-1 stalemate against Al Najma, dropping some much-needed points and effectively ending their title aspirations.
Khaldiya, coached by Bahraini tactician Ali Ashoor, claimed their second championship in league history and did so in style. Five different players scored in the lopsided win, with Mahdi Abduljabbar and substitute Ismaeel Abdullatif both firing in a brace. Senegalese professional Dominique Mendy, Iraqi Dhurgham Ismail, and Brazilian Gleison Moreira were the other scorers.
Khaldiya will be presented their winners’ trophy following their season-ending fixture next week.
The back-to-back champions opened their account in the 13th minute with an Abduljabbar penalty. Khaldiya were awarded the spot kick when Hala captain Ali Adnan appeared to deliberately handle the ball on the goalline to stop Abdulla Al Hazaa from scoring with a header. Adnan was given a red card, adding to Hala’s early woes.
Mendy then doubled their lead in the 20th minute. A cross from Khaldiya skipper Sayed Dhiya Saeed Saeed was headed high into the air by Hala’s Haroun Al Zubaidi in an effort to clear. Mendy outjumped opposing goalkeeper Godwill Chia Ndang, from Cameroon, and headed home.
Just three minutes later, Ismail got his name on the scoresheet with a stunning ball from the left flank. The Iraq international looked to send in a pass from several yards outside the box, but his delivery from an acute angle flew directly into goal over the outstretched arm of Ndang.
Moreira continued the Khaldiya onslaught and made it 4-0 in the 25th minute following a fine through-ball from Abduljabbar. Moreira outsprinted his Hala markers and made no mistake with his left-footed effort from close range. Abduljabbar then secured his brace with Khaldiya’s fifth in the 36th minute, hitting a brilliant bicycle kick off a short cross from the right by Saeed.
After the break, veteran Bahrain international striker Abdullatif joined in on the goal salvo, scoring in the 53rd minute to make it 6-0. Hamad Al Shamsan threaded in a pass through the porous Hala defence to Abdullatif in the box, and he slotted home past Hala’s substitute stopper Ashraf Mubarak. Abdullatif then scored again just four minutes later, firing in from the edge of the penalty area after dribbling past two Hala defenders.
With the result, Hala suffered their league-worst 13th loss and are still in danger of automatically dropping down to the second division or having to play in a relegation play-off.
In yesterday’s other game, Najma’s Edimar Ribeiro was on target in the 67th minute after taking advantage of some questionable Muharraq defending. The Brazilian lived up to his tag as the league’s leading scorer and netted his 22nd goal of the season with a shot from just outside the six-yard box.
In the 83rd minute, however, Muharraq were back on level terms after Hussain Abdulkarim tapped in off a cross from Ali Al Sherooqi.
Muharraq registered their ninth draw and they improved to 36 points, but it was not enough to keep their title hopes alive. Najma went to 27 points as they solidified their place in mid-table.
The 21st and penultimate round of league action continues tonight with four matches on the cards. Riffa face off with bottom side Busaiteen at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz, Al Ahli take on Al Shabab at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, Sitra lock horns with East Riffa at the National Stadium, and Manama play Hidd at Khalifa Sports City Stadium. The four fixtures are all set to kick off at 7.30pm.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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