Defending champions Al Khaldiya and perennial title contenders Riffa were both victorious last night as the sixth week of action wrapped up in the 2024-25 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
Khaldiya overcame the sending-off of goalkeeper Ammar Mohammed early in the contest to score on either side of the break in a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Al Shabab at the National Stadium in Riffa.
At the Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, Riffa battled back from a goal down to edge past Al Ahli 2-1 with a late winner.
In Khaldiya’s victory, Mahdi Abduljabbar and Dominque Mendy were on target for the back-to-back title holders. But prior to their goals, Mohammed was given his marching orders after taking down Shabab’s Dinopeter Jude Airaodion with a challenge outside the box.
Khaldiya persisted, however, and Abduljabbar opened their account in the 36th minute with a strike from close range off a rebound. Omani teammate Salaah Said Salim Al Yahyaei sent in a cross from the right to Bahrain national team star Komail Al Aswad, who hit a volley that was saved by Shabab goalkeeper Hamad Aldoseri. The ball went straight to Abduljabbar in the face of goal, and he needed only to guide it into the net. That was enough to send Khaldiya into the locker rooms with the slim lead.
Mendy finally put the game to rest in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, also following a fine save from Aldoseri. The Shabab stopper did well to keep an effort out from Brazilian forward Igor Torres Da Silva, but Mendy was first to the ensuing loose ball and he drilled it home with a low effort.
The result earned Khaldiya their fourth win in five outings as they improved to 12 points. They climbed to second on the table behind only solo leaders Muharraq, who are on 14, and just ahead of Sitra on goal difference. Shabab suffered their third loss in six games and stayed on seven points.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s other fixture, Riffa’s Algerian star Samy Frioui cancelled out an Abdulla Al Hashash opener for Ahli before Brazilian Wellington Machado Moreira fired in the decider a minute from full time.
Riffa were unlucky in the opening half when a goal by Frioui in the 11th minute, off a fine cross by Bahraini international Ali Madan, was disallowed for an offside violation.
Al Hashah then scored for Ahli in the 50th minute following an assist by Sayed Jawad Alalawi. His through-pass put Al Hashash right in front of goal, and he made no mistake with his shot, which he sent to the bottom-left corner.
Ahli’s celebrations were short-lived, however, as Frioui equalised only 10 minutes later. He hit a header from close range off a cross from Ali Hasan Saeed. That then set the stage for Riffa’s last-gasp winner in the 89th minute, when Moreira connected on a pass from the left delivered by Hazza Ali and headed in.
With the result, Riffa improved to 10 points with their third triumph in five outings. They climbed into the top four, while Ahli lost for the third time and stayed on six markers.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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