FOOTBALL – Mohammed Al Rumaihi scored a last-gasp equaliser to help Al Khaldiya escape with a 2-2 draw against two-time defending champions Muharraq last night to kick off matchweek four in the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.
Muharraq went ahead with two first-half goals from Edimar Ribeiro da Costa Junior and Venezuelan Bryant Jesus Ortega Carmona. But a Waleed Al Hayyam own goal heading into the final quarter-hour set the stage for the nail-biting finish, and Al Rumaihi pounced on a late opportunity to draw level in the third minute of second-half stoppage time for a share of the points at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town.
Also yesterday, Riffa were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Al Malkiya in a game that produced another injury-time leveller.
Serbian Dejan Georgievic put Riffa in front after only two minutes but Adnan Al Amoodi spoiled their celebrations with a goal in the 10th minute of second-half injury time at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Both contests were part of the first night of round four in league play. Action continues today and tomorrow with another two fixtures on each evening.
Tonight, Al Ahli face Manama at Khalifa Sports City Stadium while Al Ettifaq take on Hidd at the National Stadium; and tomorrow, A’ali play East Riffa at Khalifa Sports City Stadium and Al Najma go up against Sitra at the National Stadium.
All four contests are scheduled for 7pm starts.
In Muharraq’s game against Khaldiya, da Costa Junior was first to strike after only two minutes when he converted a brilliant bicycle kick off a short chest pass from Carmona.
Carmona was then on target with a stunning strike in the 28th minute from the outside edge of the penalty box.
His effort flew into the top-right corner of goal past Khaldiya’s Portuguese custodian Ricardo Manuel da Silva.
After the re-start, Muharraq appeared to have netted a third goal just two minutes into the second half when da Costa Junior sent in a rebound after Arthur Rezende hit the right post on a quick counter-attack.
It was determined, however, that Muharraq had committed a foul in the lead-up, leading to the goal’s cancellation.
Khaldiya were then given life when Al Hayyam inadvertently sent the ball into his own net off a cross from the left of the area sent in by Moroccan Saif-Eddine Bouhra.
That reduced the deficit and gave Khaldiya an opportunity to find an equaliser, and they did just that deep into injury time.
In a mad scramble in the box following a corner kick, Al Rumaihi sent the ball home from the goal mouth as Muharraq failed to clear, forging the 2-2 stand-off.
With the result, Khaldiya maintained their hold of first place on the league table with eight points – tied with Riffa but with a superior goal difference.
Riffa kept pace with their own draw against Malkiya last night.
Riffa went ahead when Georgievic scored from an acute angle at the beginning of the game but, in the end, it was Malkiya’s turn to strike, as Al Amoodi fired in from inside the box after being released with a sensational long pass by Guinean teammate Naby Camara from their own half.
Malkiya thus got their first point after four matches but stayed in last place on the standings.
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