FOOTBALL – AL Khaldiya missed a chance to go top of the table last night in the 2024-25 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
The two-time defending champions were held to a 1-1 stalemate by 10-man Al Ahli at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
Bahrain national team star Mahdi Abduljabbar was on target for Khaldiya early in the first half, but Brazilian Juda Aguiar da Silva fired in an equaliser for Ahli before the break. Neither team were then able to find a winner in the final 45 minutes and injury time.
In another game yesterday, Sitra outclassed Riffa 3-1 at the National Stadium in Riffa. Badar Bashir, Vincent Emmanuel, and substitute Lucas Felix de Melo Gomes from Brazil all scored for Sitra, while Syrian professional Mohammad Yahya Alhallak supplied Riffa’s lone consolation.
Both of yesterday’s fixtures were postponed matches from the third round of league action.
In Khaldiya’s draw with Ahli, Abduljabbar put his team ahead in the eighth minute after tapping in off a brilliant curling cross from Iraqi teammate Dhugham Ismael from the left wing. Abduljabbar stretched out his right foot and got enough of the ball to send it home before Ahli goalkeeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi could collect.
Khaldiya’s advantage was short-lived, however, as Ahli equalised in the 28th minute. Da Silva hit a stunning long-range effort that was partially blocked by Khaldiya custodian Mohamed Elgharably, but not enough to prevent it from going into the net.
After the re-start, Abduljabbar could not convert a golden opportunity to put Khaldiya back ahead on a one-on-one with Alawi. He misfired with his attempt and it was coolly collected by the Ahli stopper. Another shot, this time by Jordanian Ali Al Azaizeh from inside the box, was saved by Alawi, who also kept out a header in the 89th minute from Khaldiya’s Gleison Wilson da Silva Moreira.
In the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, Ahli’s Saud Husain Alasam was shown a red card following a harsh tackle on Moreira.
Khaldiya went to 28 points after 12 games so far this season – one behind current leaders Muharraq. Ahli registered their second stalemate and went to 14 points and stayed in the bottom half of the standings.
Meanwhile, in Sitra’s big win, they went ahead in 25th minute after Bashir fired home from close range following a scramble in the box.
Emmanuel doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute with a shot from inside the area that took a deflection. Sitra then made it 3-0 after Gomes tapped the ball in from the face of goal, aided by some poor defending from the Riffa back line, who allowed a low cross by Chad professional Ousmane Malloum Hassane get to Gomes.
Alhallak’s strike in the 88th minute came from an acute angle in the box.
Sitra claimed their fifth win and improved to 19 points to rise to fourth place on the table, just one point behind Riffa, who suffered their fourth defeat.
Following last night’s games, all 12 of the league’s clubs have now played 12 matches each.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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