Al Ahli claimed the Bahrain Handball League trophy after defeating Barbar 26-25 in the second final at the Bahrain Handball Association hall in Um Al Hassam yesterday.
Al Ahli had won the first final game 24-23 on Monday.
Babar’s hopes of taking the competition to tomorrow’s third final game were shattered when Al Ahli managed to score the winning goal in the last minute of the game.
Barbar managed to score the first goal of the game through Jaffar Abbas before Mahmoud Abdulqader scored twice to give them a 3-0 lead.
Al Ahli’s first goal came through Hassan Al Samahiji who paved the way for his team’s comeback.
However, Barbar kept their goal difference up until half-way through the first half until Al Ahli’s Sadeq Ali scored his team’s equaliser at 10-10.
Abbas once again scored for Barbar to give his team a one-goal lead.
Al Ahli quickly managed to flip the score to their favour ending the first half 16-13 ahead with their goalkeeper Salah Abdeljalil’s brilliant saves gaving them motivation.
Al Ahli kept their three-goal advantage throughout the first seven minutes of the second half going up 19-16 until their player Mahdi Madan was shown the red card.
Ali scored Al Ahli’s 22nd goal of the night but Ali Abdelqagder quickly scored one for Barbar to give Al Ahli only a one-goal lead at 22-21 with 13 minutes played.
Madan’s omission from the game was felt as Barbar took a 23-22 lead with 10 minutes to play. Mahdi Ali’s goal from the penalty spot gave Al Ahli the equaliser before adding another to go on top of their opponents once again.
With only five minutes to play, both teams scored twice with no real threat as Al Ahli looked like the better side staying in advantage.
Al Ahli have now claimed the title a record 18 times. Barbar, however, are yet to win the trophy since the 2005/2006 season.
The game was officiated by international referee Hussain Al Moot and continental referee Ali Essa. It was supervised by Abdulwahed Al Esqafy and Mirza Salman while Hassan Buhassan took charge of the registration.
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