Al Ahli and Malkiya both came away with narrow victories last night to kick off the eighth week of action in the 2024-25 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
Ahli battled back from two goals down in a wild first-half that saw all five goals scored in their 3-2 victory over bottom-of-the table East Riffa at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, while Malkiya came away with a 1-0 triumph over former leaders Sitra at Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad.
With both results, Ahli and Malkiya improved to 12 points apiece and are now in fourth and fifth place, respectively, on the league standings. Ahli have played one game less, however.
In their come-from-behind win last night, Ahli overcame a poor start. East Riffa took the lead with a 25th minute penalty converted by Bahraini captain Husain Abbas Alkhayyat after Ahli’s Ali Brahima Doumbia handled the ball in the area. Then, only two minutes later, Senegalese professional Boucounta Sarr doubled East Riffa’s advantage with a leaping header from close range off a long cross from Malian teammate Daouda Toure.
But it was downhill from there for East Riffa. Baqer Mohamed Alasfoor netted Ahli’s opening goal with a left-footed effort in the 32nd minute, and then Sayed Mahdi Sharaf brought the game back on level terms just two minutes on after taking advantage of some poor defending from their opponents. He received a pass on the right flank that should have been easily dealt with, and after a missed clearance, opposing goalkeeper Marin Ljubic from Croatia left his line and Sharaf managed to evade his tackle outside the box. Sharaf then guided the ball home into an empty net.
Facundo Agustin Tobares from Argentina supplied the winner for Ahli in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time. He received a brilliant pass from Saleh Mohamed Alashban and fired in from just beyond six yards. That was eventually enough to separate the two sides at the full-time whistle, earning Ahli their fourth triumph in seven games. East Riffa suffered their seventh loss in eight outings and remained on a single point in last place.
Meanwhile, in Malkiya’s victory, Abdulla Al Bahrani was on target in the 30th minute to help lift his side to their hard-earned win. Al Bahrani scored from an acute angle on the right of the net off a free-kick delivered by teammate Sayed Mohammed Adnan. The pass from near the half-field line went uncleared by Sitra goalkeeper Yusuf Habib Mansoor. The ball fell to the feet of Al Bahraini, who slotted home from close range.
Both sides had other chances to score but could not apply the finishing touches.
Malkiya came away with their third win in eight matches while handing Sitra only their second loss of the season in seven games, staying on 13 points.
League action continues today and tomorrow with two games to be played each night.
This evening, defending champions Al Khaldiya take on middle-of-the-table Bahrain Club at Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium while league leaders Muharraq lock horns with Riffa in a titanic clash between two title contenders at Khalifa Sports City Stadium.
Tomorrow, Al Najma go up against A’ali at Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium and Al Shabab take on Manama in a game between a pair of struggling sides at Khalifa Sports City Stadium.
All four matches are scheduled to kick off at 7pm.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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