FOOTBALL – AL Khaldiya secured three important points to boost their title ambitions last night in the 2025-26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Khaldiya overcame the dismissal of skipper Dominique Mendy at the beginning of the second half to eke out a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over a battling Hidd to kick off matchweek 19 at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
DR Congo professional Joel Beya Tumuteka fired in the winning strike with a penalty in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Teammate Mohammed Al Rumaihi had earlier equalised with a quarter-hour remaining in regulation to cancel out the game’s opening goal by Hidd’s Jordanian defender Bara Sami Marie, who found the net only five minutes after kick-off.
The crucial result extended Khaldiya’s advantage atop the table to five points ahead of defending champions Muharraq, who have a game in hand.
Khaldiya have only three fixtures remaining this season – one of which will be against Muharraq next month.
In their triumph yesterday, Hidd took a surprise lead in the fifth minute when Marie headed in at the far post following a corner kick delivered by teammate Isa Moosa. That was enough to send his team into the locker rooms in front at the break.
Then, just a minute into the re-start, Khaldiya were reduced to 10 men after Mendy was given his marching orders for an elbow to the face of Hidd’s Ibrahim Alwali Almahdi.
Despite being a man down, Khaldiya were able to draw level in the 75th minute with a goal from Al Rumaihi, who had come on as a substitute. He connected on a header in the face of goal off a corner kick sent in by Moroccan teammate Saif-Eddine Bouhra.
Khaldiya were then awarded a penalty in second-half injury time after a VAR review determined that Hidd goalkeeper Mohamed Elgharably fouled Bouhra as he challenged for the ball in the box. Tumuteka took the responsibility of taking the spot kick, and he coolly converted without hesitation.
The result earned Khaldiya their league-best 16th win as they improved to 48 points. They handed Hidd their seventh loss as they stayed on 24 points in sixth place.
In last night’s other match played at the National Stadium in Riffa, Sitra defeated A’ali to claim a much-needed three points as they look to avoid having to compete in the end-of-season relegation play-offs.
Scoring for Sitra, both in the second half, were Brazilian Bruno Luiz Pires Bezerra and Mauritanian Bakaye Wade.
Bezerra put them in front in the 68th minute when he headed in a cross from the left, supplied by Imran Ilyas Bakur Adam. Wade then doubled their advantage in the 81st minute with a stunning effort from nearly 30 yards out. His well-hit, left-footed shot flew to the left of the net, giving no chance for A’ali custodian Omar Salem.
Sitra secured win number five of their season as they went to 21 points, tied with Budaiya, who are also aiming to stay away from the relegation play-offs. A’ali suffered their eighth loss and remained on 25 markers in fifth.
The 19th round of action continues today and tomorrow with another two games each evening.
Tonight, Malkiya take on Al Najma at Khalifa Sports City Stadium while Al Shabab face bottom-ranked Bahrain Club at the National Stadium. Then, tomorrow, Riffa and Al Ahli lock horns at Khalifa Sports City Stadium while Muharraq go head-to-head with Budaiya.
All four matches are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs.
Following this week’s action, matchweek 20 is scheduled for May 3 to 5, to be followed by the 21st and penultimate matchweek from May 9 to 11, which will include the mammoth clash between Khaldiya and Muharraq that could have huge implications on the title race.
That will then set the stage for this campaign’s 22nd and final round from May 15 to 17.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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