Al Hala and Bahrain Club last night took big steps towards securing their spots in next season’s Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Both sides came away with all-important wins in the four-team play-off competition for promotion or relegation.
Hala, who are looking to make a return to the kingdom’s top flight from the second division, outclassed Isa Town 4-1 at Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad, while Bahrain Club, who are aiming to retain their place in the premiership, edged past A’ali 1-0 at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
Both Hala and Bahrain Club improved to four points on the tournament standings with just one match day remaining next week. Isa Town and A’ali remained on one point apiece.
In the concluding fixtures, to be played on Monday, Hala take on A’ali at the National Stadium in Riffa, while Bahrain Club face Isa Town at Khalifa Sports City Stadium.
Hala and Isa Town are hoping to join second division sides Budaiya and Hidd in gaining promotion to the 2025-26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League, while Bahrain Club and A’ali are battling to avoid relegation and joining East Riffa and Manama in the drop to division two.
In Hala’s victory yesterday, all four goals were scored in the second half. French professional Mamadou Lamine Diawara supplied a brace – with his first coming just two minutes after the break.
After Isa Town goalkeeper Salman Issa Al Sabr failed to deal with a cross supplied from the left by Hala’s Hamza Abdulla Attar, Diawara took advantage of the opportunity and sent the loose ball in from the goal mouth.
Diawara then doubled their advantage in the 54th minute when another cross from Attar hit the woodwork and bounced towards Hala’s Ali Basham Basmani. He headed towards Diawara in the face of goal, who in turn headed home from inside the six-yard box.
Hala’s Malta fires home against the Isa Town defence
Hala made it 3-0 in the 76th minute when Syrian Mohammad Malta scored on a quick counter-attack after the Isa Town back line failed to deal with a high ball.
Isa Town got their lone consolation just three minutes later when Sekou Kaba scored after stealing possession away in their own half and then firing in from inside the box.
But Hisham Nayem had the last say in the match for Hala, finding the net in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to apply the nail in the coffin.
In Bahrain Club’s victory, they were gifted the game’s lone goal in the 17th minute following a horrific gaffe by A’ali goalkeeper Jaafar Jassim Hussain.
Hussain was set to take a goal kick but suddenly slipped when making his attempt.
Brazilian Joel Vinicius Silva Dos Anjos was lurking close by and poached on the opportunity. He sent the ball into an empty net with a single touch, and his goal eventually proved enough to separate the two sides.
Both teams had other chances to score over the remainder of the game, but neither could apply the finishing touches.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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