FOOTBALL – MUHARRAQ enjoyed a sensational start to their title defence last night in the 2025-26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Muharraq showed their class in a resounding 3-0 victory against long-time rivals Al Ahli, who were reduced to 10 men, at the Late Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Bin Isa Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad.
Edimar Ribeiro da Costa Junior, last season’s top scorer, continued from where he left off, firing a brace for the victors with goals on either side of the break. Brazilian Arther Rodrigues Rezende supplied the other goal on his Muharraq debut.
In yesterday’s other fixture, Al Khaldiya, who are one of Muharraq’s chief challengers to the crown, posted a hard-earned 1-0 victory over A’ali at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Dominique Mendy was on target for Khaldiya with the game’s lone strike in the second half.
Both of last night’s matches were held on the second day of week one in the new season of the kingdom’s top flight. Action continues tonight with another two fixtures. At the Late Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Bin Isa Al Khalifa Stadium, Al Shabab take on Budaiya, while at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, Al Najma lock horns with Riffa. The two contests are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs.
With yesterday’s results, Muharraq and Khaldiya joined Sitra in taking the full three points in their respective opening assignments.
In Muharraq’s triumph, Rezende came close to opening the scoring in the 26th minute but his free-kick from a few metres outside the box came off the crossbar.
Muharraq were then awarded a penalty right before the half after Soufiane Saeed Mahrouk was taken down in the area with a harsh challenge by Ahli’s Jordanian professional Majd Al Zoubi, who was given his marching orders. Following a VAR check, Da Costa Junior stepped forward to take the spot kick and he made no mistake with his 44th minute effort, giving them the advantage at the interval.
After the re-start, Muharraq got their second just seven minutes in. Rezende received a brilliant assist from Da Costa Junior, and he slotted home from close range.
Da Costa Junior then completed his brace in the 57th minute. Angolan teammate Elliot Jorge Simeos Inacio delivered a fine cross from the left flank that wasn’t dealt with by Ahli’s back line. Da Costa Junior thus pounced on the opportunity and tapped the ball in from the face of goal.
Substitute Lucas Morelatto da Cruz from Brazil had a great chance to add to Muharraq’s total late in the contest, but his attempt was saved by Ahli custodian Sayed Shubar Alawi.
In Khaldiya’s victory, A’ali did well to hold their favoured opponents goalless in the first half, but Khaldiya were able to break the goalless deadlock early in the second. Mendy scored with a 55th minute header off a short cross supplied by Mohammed Adel.
In the 10th minute of second-half injury time, A’ali players were looking to get a penalty as they argued Khaldiya’s Ahmed Bughammar had handled the ball in the box. But no spot kick was given by the match referee.
The 2025-26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League is to be played in a double round-robin. The first round will continue until the 11th match week, which starts on January 8 next year, while the ensuing 11 match weeks have yet to be scheduled.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))