FOOTBALL – MUHARRAQ posted a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Al Ahli last night in their week nine match of the 2024-25 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League.
National team star Abdulwahab Al Malood headed in the winning goal with just under a quarter-hour remaining in regular time, lifting the leaders to the hard-earned result.
Ahmed Al Sherooqi and Edimar Ribeiro Da Costa Junior were on target for Muharraq earlier in the contest, while Abdulla Al Hashash and Argentinian Facundo Agustin Tobares scored for Ahli.
The result earned Muharraq their sixth win in nine games and it extended their advantage atop the table, where they now enjoy a four-point gap from their closest challengers Al Najma, although having played a game more. Ahli suffered their fourth loss in eight outings and stayed in the bottom half of the standings.
In last night’s other game, Sitra and Bahrain Club both scored in second-half injury time to come away with a 2-2 stalemate. Sitra kept their place amongst the top five clubs on the standings while Bahrain Club stayed amongst the bottom five.
In Muharraq’s victory at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, Ahli opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Al Hashash hit a brilliant volley from inside the box. Al Sherooqi replied just three minutes later with a shot from the left that flew into the net, helped by a slight deflection by an Ahli defender.
Da Costa Junior then put Muharraq in front in the 16th minute after firing in from close range following some sloppy play from the Ahli back line, who easily gave away possession. Tobares then tied it yet again in the 37th minute with a stunning strike from the right of the penalty box. That sent the two teams deadlocked into the break.
Muharraq then got their winner in the 76th minute when Al Malood headed home from the face of goal following some brilliant approach play on the right of the area by Al Sherooqi, who supplied the assist for the match winner.
Muharraq went to 20 points on the standings while Ahli stayed on 12.
In last night’s other game, Bahrain Club took the lead in first-half stoppage time with a goal from Brazilian Michel Darlyn Dias Rocha. Yaya Al Hadj Ousman then equalised in the 62nd minute, setting the stage for goals from Nigerian Imran Ilyas and Rocha in the 92nd and 94th minutes, respectively.
Sitra went to 15 points while Bahrain Club improved to 11 markers.
Week nine of league action wraps up tonight with another two matches. Riffa face Al Shabab while defending champions Al Khaldiya take on Al Najma. Both games are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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