Malkiya scored two goals in the first half to beat Al Hala 2-1 while Al Shabab rallied to defeat Al Najma 2-1 in second week matches of the Nasser bin Hamad Football Premier League last night.
At the Bahrain National Stadium pitch, Malkiya, who were playing their first match of the season, needed only the first half to grab victory against Al Hala.
Malkiya wasted an easy chance to score in the 19th minute, when team captain Isa Al Barri’s header went past the bar of Al Hala goalkeeper Hamad Al Dossary.
Two minutes later Isa Al Barri was presented with another chance to score when he received a timely cross from Sayed Hashim Isa. Al Barri outmaneouvred the Hala goalkeeper and sent the ball into the top of the net.
Al Hala could have equalised in the 30th minute when Abdulla Janahi recieved a pass near the goal but his shot was saved by Malkiya goalkeeper Yousif Habib.
Malkiya scored their second goal in the 41st minute when Isa passed the ball to Ahmed Yousif, who sent the ball over the head of goalkeeper Hamad Al Dossary into the net, as the first half ended 2-0.
Al Hala were a more competent unit than Malkiya in the second half, and they managed to score in the 64th minute. The goal came through a powerful shot by Mohammed Al Na’ar.
Al Hala got a chance to equalise in the 72nd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after Mohammed Al Na’ar was fouled inside the box. However, Brazilian Louis wasted the shot which hit the top bar.
In the other match, played at Al Ahli Club stadium, Al Shabab came back after trailing 0-1 to seal a 2-1 victory over Al Najma.
Al Najma scored first in the 67th minute through Senegalese Mamado. However, Al Shabab hit back with two goals to grab an important victory over last year’s King Cup champions.
The equaliser came in the 78th minute through Hassan Madan, while the winning goal was scored in injury time by Mahmood Al Mokhtar.