FOOTBALL – AL Najma edged Manama 3-2 last night to secure a perfect record after three games in the relegation/promotion play-offs for the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Both Najma and Manama had already secured their spots in next season’s top flight heading into yesterday’s clash, which was a non-bearing affair at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Najma wrapped their campaign in the mini-competition on a positive note, with all three of their goals – a brace by Adel Al Rumaihi and another by French professional and substitute Zachary Marvin Hadji – coming in the second half.
Manama took the lead in the 10th minute when Ali Muftah guided the ball home in the face of goal off a cross from the left sent in by teammate Issa Ghuloom. That was enough to send his team into the break with the slim advantage.
But Al Rumaihi equalised with a brilliant curling strike in the 57th minute from the outside edge of the box. His shot flew into the top-right corner of the net and gave Manama goalkeeper Redha Ghuloom no chance.
Hadji then put Najma in front in the 73rd minute after slotting home from near the penalty spot off a pass from teammate Faisal Abudahoom.
Al Rumaihi then applied the nail in the coffin in the 80th minute after a defensive gaffe by Manama’s Sayed Hassan Almosawi, who failed to control a back pass and gave Al Rumaihi a clear shot at goal from inside the area.
Manama’s Hussain Akbar got a goal back for his team after tucking in a short cross from Muftah in the 87th minute.
The result was Manama’s first loss of the relegation/promotion play-offs but it mattered little as they are returning to the kingdom’s premiership after one season in the Bahrain First Division.
Manama are joining division one champions Al Ettifaq and runners-up East Riffa in the climb to the top.
Meanwhile, in last night’s other fixture to end the play-offs, Budaiya defeated Al Ettihad 1-0 at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz.
This game too had no bearing as Budaiya were already assured of their relegation to the first division, where they will be joining Ettihad, who have missed out on promotion.
Budaiya’s Abdulla Al Bahrani fired in the game’s lone goal from close range off an assist from the right delivered by teammate Mohammed Alshamsi.
Budaiya claimed their first three points of the play-offs after losing their opening two games while Ettihad suffered their third successive defeat.
Budaiya are making the drop from the premier league with Al Shabab and Bahrain Club.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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