FOOTBALL – MUHARRAQ claimed a 2-0 victory over Al Najma last night to extend their lead atop the table in the 2024-25 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
Argentinian professional Facundo Agustin Tobares and Bahraini teammate Ahmed Moosa were on target on either side of the break to help lift their side in the round 15 contest, which was played at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Muharraq went six points clear in first place on the standings, with their closest challengers Al Khaldiya set to be in action tonight.
In other games in the league’s 15th round yesterday, Al Malkiya and A’ali played to a 2-2 draw at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, while Bahrain Club edged past Al Shabab 1-0 at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
In Muharraq’s triumph, Tobares put them in front in the 23rd minute after tapping in from close range off a corner-kick delivered by Ahmed Al Sherooqi. Najma failed to clear and then the ball took a slight deflection before Tobares guided it home from the face of goal.
Muharraq then doubled their advantage eight minutes from full time when Moosa scored with a header from inside the area. A cross from Uruguayan Gervasio Olivera Fernandez was punched away by Najma custodian Ahmed Abdulrasool, but the ball went straight to Moosa, who reacted instantly to send it home.
Muharraq secured their 12th win in 15 outings to improve to 38 points, while they handed Najma their seventh defeat as they stayed on 18 markers in mid-table.
In Malkiya’s draw, A’ali were given a boost ahead of last night’s match following reports that they had taken the full three points from their 1-1 draw in round 14 against Manama, who were officially declared 0-3 losers after fielding seven foreign players in the game.
A’ali filed a complaint with the Bahrain Football Association (BFA), which was reviewed and a decision was taken urgently by the BFA’s disciplinary committee.
A’ali were gifted the lead in yesterday’s match after Malkiya’s Ahmed Muslem Habib inadvertently sent the ball into his own goal off a cross from the left by Portuguese professional Alvaro Jordao Cardoso just six minutes in.
A’ali then went up 2-0 after another Malkiya own goal in the 31st minute. Irish import Clyde O’Connell headed towards goal from the right, and then the ball bounced off Malkiya’s Hassan Isa Salman and went into the net.
But Malkiya finally got onto the scoreboard eight minutes later when Nigerian Onoriode Marshal Odah scored with a header off a corner-kick from the right. Odah then supplied the equaliser in the 69th minute for his team, scoring from close range after a stunning free-kick by Sayed Mohammed Adnan hit the crossbar. The ball rebounded high into the air, and Odah headed the ball in.
Following a review of the points following the BFA’s decision, A’ali went to 13 markers with last night’s draw, while Malkiya improved to 20 points.
In Bahrain Club’s narrow victory, they were awarded a penalty late on when Shabab’s Abdulrahman Ali handled the ball in the area.
Brazilian Joel Vinicius Dos Anjos then coolly converted the 80th minute spot kick, giving Bahrain Club the full three points to rise to 18 with their fifth win. Shabab stayed on 19 after their sixth defeat.
The 15th round of league action continues tonight when two-time defending champions Khaldiya take on bottom-of-the-table club East Riffa at the National Stadium in Riffa. Sitra also go up against Al Ahli at Khalifa Sports City Stadium, while Manama and Riffa clash at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium.
All three matches are scheduled for simultaneous 7.20pm kick-offs.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))