FOOTBALL – MANAMA stunned Al Najma 2-1 last night in their round 11 match of the 2024-25 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
Brazilian Fernando Victor Januario Dos Santos and Uruguayan Gaston Rodriguez Maeso were both on target for the victors in the second half after conceding an own goal before the break.
The result was much-needed for struggling Manama, who claimed only their second win in 11 matches as they remained amongst the bottom three clubs on the table. Najma, on the other hand, suffered their fourth loss and dropped to fourth on the standings.
Playing at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, Najma took the lead in the 24th minute when Jumai Jallow sent in a shot from the right of the box. His left-footed effort took a deflection off Manama’s Hamza Ahmed Aljuban, and it was officially registered as an own goal.
Manama then drew level 11 minutes after the break from the penalty spot. They were given their spot kick when Aljuban was fouled on an aerial challenge by Najma goalkeeper Mahmood Abdulghani Alajmi.
Dos Santos stepped forward to take the penalty, and he made no mistake with his effort to draw level.
Maeso then sent in the match-winner in the 77th minute. He had initially hit the crossbar with a header and then teammate Ebrahim Al Khattal did the same off the rebound. As his attempt bounced off the woodwork, it fell straight to the feet of Maeso in the face of goal, and he simply tapped in from close range.
With their victory, Manama improved to 10 points but remained amongst the bottom teams, while Najma stayed on 17 points although fell one spot.
Meanwhile, in last night’s other fixture at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Arad, cellar-dwellers East Riffa were denied their first victory of the season with a late Al Shabab equaliser in a 1-1 stalemate.
East Riffa went ahead in the 22nd minute following a rocket free-kick by Brazilian Ebert Cardos Da Silva. His powerful left-footed effort swerved into the goal and gave Shabab’s Hamad Al Dosari no chance.
But just as it seemed that East Riffa would be taking the three points, Shabab were awarded a penalty when Husain Al Khayyat brought down Moroccan Riad Idbouiguiguine in the box with only minutes remaining in regular time. Following a VAR check, the penalty was given and Husain Ali Alqassab fired into the bottom-left corner of the net.
East Riffa came away with their third draw as they improved to just three points from 11 games. Shabab, on the other hand, went to 18 points following their third stand-off.
Round 11 of league action will wrap up on February 23 when two-time defending champions Al Khaldiya take on Sitra, and Riffa face off with Bahrain Club.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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