FOOTBALL – Leaders Muharraq and two-time defending champions Al Khaldiya continued their tight battle atop the table last night in the 2024-25 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
Both teams were victorious in their respective round 14 matches, with Muharraq outclassing Bahrain Club 3-1 on their home pitch at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, and Khaldiya edging past Al Ahli 2-1 at the National Stadium in Riffa.
In another game yesterday held at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, Sitra and Riffa played to a thrilling 1-1 stalemate.
In Muharraq’s win last night, goals from Bahrain international striker Hussain Abdulkarim and Jordanian professional Ibrahim Mohammad Sa’deh in second-half stoppage time helped lift their team to their all-important victory – just minutes after losing influential playmaker Soufiane Mahrouk to a red card.
Bahrain Club went ahead early in the contest after Muharraq’s veteran goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaafar fouled Brazilian Joel Vinicius Silva dos Anjos in the area.
Dos Anjos stepped forward to take the 26th minute spot kick himself. He sent it to the bottom-right corner of the net despite Jaafar guessing the right way.
League top-scorer Edimar Ribeiro da Costa Junior then equalised for Muharraq two minutes before the break with a header from close range off a cross delivered by Abdulla Al Khalasi from the left flank.
Neither team were then able to add to the score over the remainder of regulation, and after Mahrouk was given his marching orders in the 92nd minute for an unsportsmanlike act against Ahmed Saleh Rashed, Bahrain Club appeared to be headed for a strong finish.
But it was Muharraq who stepped up, and Abdulkarim put them in front two minutes on after tapping in from close range following an Ahmed Al Sherooqi cross from the right that was not dealt with. Abdulkarim pounced and scored from the goal mouth.
Sa’deh applied the nail in the coffin in the 106th minute, scoring from close range to cap Muharraq’s 11th win. They improved to 35 points atop the table, staying three ahead of Khaldiya. Bahrain Club suffered their seventh loss and remained on 15 points.
For the reigning champions, Bahrain national team stars Mahdi Abduljabbar and Mohammed Al Rumaihi were both on target in their win against Ahli.
Abduljabbar scored with an 18th minute penalty after Sayed Mahdi Baqer was brought down in the box. But just 10 minutes on, Sayed Jawad Alalwi brought his team level with a left-footed shot from inside the area after the Khaldiya defence failed to clear the danger.
But Al Rumaihi struck in the 79th minute on a quick counter-attack with a low shot to give Khaldiya back the advantage. They were able to hold on until the final whistle as they claimed their 10th triumph.
They handed Ahli their seventh loss and they stayed on 17 markers.
In Sitra’s draw with Riffa, Ali Nasser put Sitra ahead in the 33rd minute with a goal the left of the box. Teammate Ousmane Malloum Hassane set his shot up perfectly with a short assist.
Ali Haram then gave Riffa a share of the points with an equaliser in the 94th minute on a header off a corner-kick.
Sitra went to 23 points with their fifth standoff for third place on the standings, while Riffa followed with 22 after their fourth draw.
League action continues tonight and tomorrow with the remaining matches of round 14. This evening, Manama face A’ali at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium and Al Shabab take on Al Malkiya at the National Stadium. Tomorrow, East Riffa and Al Najma lock horns at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium. All three fixtures are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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