FOOTBALL – MUHARRAQ extended their lead atop the table in the 2024-25 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League last night with a 4-0 rout of A’ali to kick off the 11th round of action this season.
Edimar Ribeiro Da Costa Junior had a brace and then supplied the assists for the two other goals to spearhead the victors’ attack. Portuguese professional Elliot Jorge Simoes Inacio and Bahrain national team player Hussain Abdulkarim were the others on target.
The win was the eighth for Muharraq in 11 matches. They are now five points ahead of two-time defending champions Al Khaldiya, who are their closest challengers but have played two games less.
Da Costa Junior put Muharraq ahead at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town in the 16th minute when he sent in a short volley from close range. After Jordanian teammate Ibrahim Mohammad Sa’deh hit the woodwork with a rocket effort, the rebound went to Soufiane Saaed Mahrouk on the left. He then delivered a perfect cross to Da Costa Junior, who made no mistake with his single touch.
Da Costa Junior then added to his account in the 36th minute. He headed home off a corner kick, and it was enough to give Muharraq the two-goal advantage heading into the break.
After the re-start, Inacio made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. He sent in a low volley from just outside the six-yard box off a fine pass from Da Costa Junior.
Abdulkarim then hit the nail in the coffin two minutes from the end of regular time following a short pass from Da Costa Junior. Charging to the right of goal, Da Costa Junior was on the receiving end of a pass from Ahmed Al Sherooqi from the left, and he brilliantly headed the ball towards a poaching Abdulkarim, who sent the ball into the net.
Muharraq improved to 26 points from their 11 matches, while A’ali suffered their eighth defeat and stayed on just five in second-to-last place on the standings.
In yesterday’s other game, played at the National Stadium in Riffa, Al Ahli and Al Malkiya played to a 1-1 stalemate.
Ahli took the lead in the 41st minute when Colombian Juan Felipe Villa Ruiz was gifted an opportunity following a botched pass by Malkiya. Stealing away possession, Ruiz controlled the ball entering the box with his first touch and then with his second slotted past Malkiya goalkeeper Godwill Chia Ndang.
But Malkiya equalised in the 52nd minute with an impressive volley by Moroccan Khalil Tamrani, who connected on a lobbed pass from the right of the area.
Following the share of the spoils, Ahli went to 13 points but stayed in the bottom half of the table, while Malkiya improved to 17 in the top half.
League action continues tonight with another two matches. East Riffa take on Al Shabab and Manama go up against Al Najma. Both games are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs at separate venues.
Round 11 will then wrap up on February 23 when Khaldiya take on Sitra, and Riffa face off with Bahrain Club.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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