FOOTBALL – Al Ettifaq continued their impressive start to the 2026-27 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League last night with a hard-earned 2-0 win over 10-man Al Ahli at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Last season’s Bahrain First Division champions are making the most of their promotion to the kingdom’s top flight, securing their second triumph in three games thanks to second-half goals from Hassan Abdo and Mohammed Abdulqayoom.
Abdo gave the victors the lead in the 53rd minute after scoring from inside the box.
He was released by a pass from Abdulqayoom and charged towards goal before firing into the right corner of the net past Ahli’s Ebrahim Luthfallah after cleverly evading his markers.
Ahli were then reduced to 10 men after Inters Auxence Gui was given a direct red card in the 72nd minute after hitting Ettifaq substitute Mustafa Kaba in the face.
Luthfllah later made brilliant save on one-on-one with Ettifaq’s Moroccan professional Abdelghafour Mehri in the second minute of second-half injury time.
But he could not stop Abdulqayoom’s match-sealing effort two minutes later, which came off an assist from teammate Abdullah Al Kamel.
Ettifaq improved to six points to rise to third on the league table as the third round of the new season came to a close.
Ahli suffered their maiden defeat and stayed on four points in mid-table.
Meanwhile, Sitra and Hidd played to a goalless draw at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town in a clash that saw both teams go a man down.
For Hidd, Ebrahim Alkhattal was given his marching orders after stepping on the foot of Sitra’s Ali Haram at the half-hour mark.
Sitra’s Vincent Emmaniel was later sent off in the 71st minute following his second booking on a harsh foul in an aerial challenge with Hidd’s Ayman Alawni.
Sitra went to five points in fourth place while Hidd rose to four in sixth.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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