FOOTBALL – Al Khaldiya and Sitra kicked off the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League last night with big wins in their respective opening night fixtures.
Khaldiya enjoyed a goal bonanza in an incredible 7-2 triumph against Al Najma in a high-scoring affair at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz.
Sitra, on the other hand, came away with a hard-earned 3-0 victory against 10-man Malkiya at the National Stadium in Riffa.
The game was paused for nearly an additional half-hour during the break after Malkiya’s Ali Ahmed was taken to hospital by an ambulance.
Matchweek one of the new campaign continues today and tomorrow with two more games each evening.
Tonight, defending champions Muharraq begin their quest for a title ‘three-peat’ when they face off with long-time rivals Al Ahli at the National Stadium.
East Riffa then mark their return to the top flight as runners-up from last season’s Bahrain First Division when they lock horns with Hidd in the other game this evening at Ahli.
Both contests are scheduled to kick off at 7pm.
In Khaldiya’s win yesterday, five players were on target for the victors, led by Othman Alhaj and substitute Nizar Elotmani, who each had a brace.
Moroccan professional Walid Sabbar, Gleison Wilson da Silva Moreira, and skipper Mahdi Humaidan contributed a goal apiece.
Khaldiya took the lead with a 14th minute penalty converted by Sabbar, who sent the ball to the bottom-right corner of goal past Najma custodian Ammar Mohammed.
Khaldiya were given their spot kick following a lengthy VAR check that determined Najma’s Hassan Madan had taken down Humaidan in the penalty box on a prior corner kick.
Alhaj then doubled Khaldiya’s advantage only six minutes later after tapping the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box following a cross from the right by Moroccan teammate Saif-Eddine Bouhra.
Alhaj later completed his double with a sliding 36th minute effort, this time pouncing on a cross from the left delivered by Tunisian Oussama Shili.
Moreira added Khaldiya’s fourth in the second minute of first-half stoppage time with a stunning volley off a brilliant lobbed pass from Dominique Mendy.
Five minutes later, Humaidan slotted home off a rebound after Najma’s Mohammed saved a shot by Mendy in a quick counter attack.
Humaidan made no mistake with his attempt from an acute angle, sending Khaldiya into the locker rooms with the near-insurmountable advantage.
After the re-start, Najma got their first consolation in the 52nd minute with a Mohammed Adel own goal.
He inadvertently sent the ball into his own net off an Ali Aldoseri cross from the right which he did not successfully clear.
But Elotmani restored Khaldiya’s five-goal advantage in the 63rd minute, firing in from close range from the right of the area.
Najma reduced the deficit once more through Brazilian professional Rickson Barbosa Conceicao, who found the net in the 81st minute.
Elotmani later pegged the final score with his second goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
He netted home after being released on a counter by a fine through-pass from Sayed Dhiya Saeed.
Meanwhile, Sitra scored twice in second-half injury time to pull away late in their match against Malkiya, who went a man down in the closing moments.
Veteran skipper Ali Haram had put Sitra ahead in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time with a rebound after a missed penalty.
His first shot came off the right post but Haram made amends with his second attempt, which he sent the opposite direction.
The half-time break was then prolonged as the match could not resume after Malkiya’s Ahmed was brought to the hospital by ambulance.
According to the Bahrain Football Association, league regulations require an ambulance to be at the venue at all times during play.
Ali Alasfoor was then on target from close range for Sitra in the fourth minute of second-half injury time off a fine chest pass from Haram.
Sitra were then awarded a penalty after substitute Hamouda Ben was brought down in the area by Malkiya’s Hadi Ghazi, who was given his marching orders.
Ali Nasser stepped forward to take the spot kick, which he coolly converted to seal their victory.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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