THE eagerly awaited Bahrain derby in the Bahrain Viva First Division Football League between Muharraq and Al Ahli yesterday ended disappointingly with a 1-1 draw at Bahrain National Stadium in Isa Town.
Al Ahli went ahead in the fourth minute through Ibrahim Ahmed Habib while Muharraq equalised in the 48th with Congolese Doris Salamo converting a penalty.
Muharraq remain third on the table with 22 points, three points behind leaders Malkiya and one point behind second placed Manama. Muharraq have played a game more.
Al Ahli started briskly and shocked Muharraq with an early goal when Togo’s Kwomi Foovi crossed the ball inside the box to Ibrahim Ahmed Habib who made the most of the opportunity and hit the target.
Muharraq went all out in search of the equaliser and they came close to achieving it when Dutchman Gregory Nelson made a fine long-range attempt, but it was brilliantly saved by Al Ahli goalkeeper Ahmed Meshaima.
Muharraq were awarded a penalty in injury time of the first-half when striker Salamo was fouled by Al Ahli defender Mohammed Da’as.
Salamo himself stepped in to take the kick and easily found the target.
Wasted
Late in the second-half, Muharraq wasted a golden opportunity to seal victory when striker Ismael Abdullatif was in the right position to score the match-winner. But Al Ahli goalkeeper Meshaima came to his team’s rescue once again and the match ended with no alteration to the score-line.
In today’s match, East Riffa take on Al Hidd at 6.30pm at Khalifa Sports Stadium in Isa Town.
Al Hidd are in sixth place with 16 points and a victory today could move them up to fourth.
East Riffa are ninth with 10 points and a victory will lift them to eighth.