FOOTBALL – Defending champions Muharraq climbed to the top of the table last night in the 2025-26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League following an impressive 3-0 victory over lowly Al Shabab at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
Soufiane Saeed Mahrouk had a brace with goals on either side of half-time to help lead his team to the matchweek 13 win, while teammate Hussain Abdulkarim also made it onto their scoresheet.
With the result, Muharraq secured their ninth triumph in 13 outings so far this season as they improved to 30 points.
They are now tied with former solo leaders Al Khaldiya but own a superior goal difference to leapfrog their rivals on the standings.
Also yesterday, Bahrain Club came away with an all-important point after holding Hidd to a 1-1 stalemate at the Late Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Bin Isa Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad.
Algerian Oussama Bellatreche put Hidd in front early in the game but Jassim Mohamed Jawad equalised for Bahrain Club with around a quarter-hour to play.
Bahrain Club got out of last place with the draw while Hidd rose to fifth on the table.
In Muharraq’s win last night, Mahrouk opened their account in the 15th minute with a strike from close range after a fine assist from Brazilian teammate Arther Rodrigues Rezende, which was not dealt with by the Shabab defence.
Abdulkarim was then on target just two minutes after the break. He slotted home with one touch off a headed pass from Edimar Ribeiro da Costa Junior.
Mahrouk then applied the nail in the coffin in the 71st minute after firing in from near the penalty spot off a short cross from the left of the box by their newest star signing Samy Frioui, who came on as a substitute.
Mahrouk made no mistake with his effort, sending the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net.
Muharraq handed Shabab their ninth defeat of the campaign as they dropped to the bottom of the standings with six points.
In yesterday’s other game, Bellatreche gave Hidd the advantage with a seventh-minute effort from the edge of the box.
It was enough to put his side in front at the interval, and Bahrain Club were only able to draw level in the 72nd minute through Jawad.
He headed in from the face off goal off a rebound after a sliding effort from Sultan Mansoor Alsalatneh came off the crossbar.
Hidd went to 15 points to tie Al Budaiya, Al Ahli, and Sitra, while Bahrain Club improved to seven markers to rise to second-to-last place.
The league’s 13th matchweek concludes tonight with another two fixtures on the cards.
Riffa go up against Sitra at Khalifa Sports City Stadium and A’ali play Al Najma at the Late Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Bin Isa Al Khalifa Stadium. Both games are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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