FOOTBALL – MUHARRAQ defeated Al Malkiya 3-0 last night to stretch their lead atop the table in the 2024-25 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
Bahrain national team stars Hussain Abdulkarim, Amine Benaddi, and Waleed Al Hayyam were all on target for the victors on their home pitch at Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad.
The match was part of a three-game schedule yesterday to kick off the 13th round of the current season.
In other matches, Al Ahli came away with a narrow 1-0 victory against Al Najma at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, and second-to-last placed A’ali outclassed Al Shabab 3-0 at the National Stadium in Riffa.
In Muharraq’s triumph, all three of their goals were scored in the second-half. Abdulkarim put them ahead from the penalty spot after converting in the 59th minute. Muharraq were awarded the penalty after Malkiya goalkeeper Godwill Chia Ndang committed a hard foul on Muharraq’s Soufiane Mahrouk as he was charging towards goal. Ndang was shown the yellow card, and Abdulkarim stepped forward to take the spot kick, which he sent to the bottom-left corner of the net.
Benaddi then doubled their advantage in the 70th minute when he scored off a rebound. Ndang saved a shot by Mahrouk, but the ball went directly to Benaddi in the face of goal, and he made no mistake with his effort.
Al Hayyam then applied the nail in the coffin in the 77th minute with a stunning free-kick from the outside edge of the penalty box. He unleashed a powerful left-footed strike that flew into the top-left corner of goal, leaving Ndang no chance.
The win was the league-leading 10th for Muharraq from 13 outings as they improved to 32 points – now four ahead of two-time defending champions Al Khaldiya, who have a game in hand but are in action tonight.
Malkiya were dealt their third loss and they stayed on 18 points.
In Ahli’s triumph, a goal by Colombian Juan Felipe Villa Ruiz in the first half was enough to separate the two sides. Villa Ruiz was on target in the 25th minute from close range off an assist by Sayed Jawad Alawi.
Ahli claimed their fifth win as they rose to 17 points on the standings. They are now tied with Najma, who suffered their sixth loss but stayed above their opponents with a superior goal difference.
A’ali secured only their second win of this campaign in their upset against Shabab.
Brazilian Fabricio Ribeiro Correia put the winners ahead after only three minutes, scoring with a fine low volley off a cross from the left delivered by Hassan Oumar Abdelaziz. A’ali were then awarded a penalty at the half-hour mark after Shabab’s Zakariya Ebrahim handled the ball in the area. Brazilian professional Robson Da Silva took the spot kick, which he sent to the bottom-left corner past Shabab custodian Hamad Al Doseri, who guessed the right way but was unable to make the stop.
A’ali then got their third in the third minute of second-half stoppage time with some brilliant teamwork. Correia had a back-heeled pass for Qasim Saeed Ali, who then sent the assist from the left of the area to Adnan Tareq Al Amoodi, who slotted in from close range.
A’ali went to nine points on the table but remained second from bottom. Shabab had their fifth loss and stayed on 18 markers in the top-half of the standings.
League action continues tonight with three more matches to wrap up week 13. Khaldiya and Riffa go head-to-head in a titanic clash between two of this season’s top three clubs. Their game will be held at the National Stadium. At Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium, Bahrain Club face off with East Riffa and at Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Sitra go up against Manama.
All three contests are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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