FOOTBALL – AL Khaldiya escaped with a last-gasp 1-0 victory over lowly Al Shabab last night in their matchweek 14 encounter in the 2025-26 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Bahrain’s senior men’s national team veteran Mohammed Al Rumaihi fired in a late winner for the victors at The Late Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa Stadium in Arad. Al Rumaihi was on target in the first minute of second-half injury time to help lift his side in the hotly contested affair and come away with all three points.
Khaldiya registered their league-best 11th win in 14 matches with yesterday’s result, tying defending champions Muharraq on the table with 33 points apiece, but with Muharraq owning a superior goal difference.
The joint-leaders are engaged in a tight three-team battle along with Riffa for this season’s crown. Riffa are three points back after slipping this same matchweek to a 0-3 defeat against Hidd.
Shabab suffered their season-worst 10th defeat last night as they remained at the very bottom of the standings. They have just six points so far from one win and three draws and are in danger of direct relegation to the Bahrain First Division.
In last night’s contest, neither side could break the deadlock at the half and it appeared to be headed to a goalless stalemate until Al Rumaihi’s end-game heroics.
Operating near midfield, teammate Gleison Wilson da Silva Moreira delivered a precision pass that was not dealt with by the Shabab defence to Al Rumaihi, who charged towards goal and broke the opposing off-side trap. Al Rumaihi then unleashed a low effort from the left of the penalty box with his first touch – a shot that should have been collected by Shabab goalkeeper Rashed Maktoob Aldoseri, but it instead rolled between his legs and into the net.
A VAR review followed the strike, and the goal stood, sealing the all-important win for Khaldiya.
Last night’s game was the held on the second of four matchdays in week 14. Khaldiya joined Muharraq and Hidd as winners so far, with Muharraq edging past Malkiya 1-0 and Hidd stunning heavily favoured Riffa.
Matchweek 14 continues with the last two days of action. Tonight, A’ali face off with Ahli at The Late Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa Stadium in a match between teams battling in mid-table. Then, on Saturday, Sitra take on Al Najma at the same venue while Bahrain Club battle Budaiya at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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