Last-gasp equalizers headline Bahrain season openers

Shabab, Riffa rescue points at death

The 2025–26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League continued last night with Budaiya and Al Shabab, and Al Najma against Riffa, both playing their first matches of the season — and both games being decided in the dying minutes.

Budaiya, Shabab Drama

At the Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Stadium, Budaiya and Al Shabab traded blows in a 1-1 contest. Budaiya struck first in the 39th minute when Adriano’s free-kick delivery sparked a goalmouth scramble, eventually finished by Hamad Fuad with a sharp first-time finish into the far corner. Just as Budaiya seemed set for three points, drama unfolded deep into stoppage time. Al Shabab’s Moroccan forward Mahmood El Kayssoumi was brought down by goalkeeper Mohammed Marhoon, and Stephane Samir calmly dispatched the penalty in the 97th minute.  .

Najma, Riffa Thriller

At Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, Al Najma thought they had taken the lead before the break when Riffa’s Brahim Tandia latched onto a stunning long ball from Rodrigo Yuri and finished superbly, only to see the strike ruled out for offside. Najma’s breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Samy Frioui stooped to head Ali AlDoseri’s deflected cross into the near post. Riffa then pressed relentlessly, and captain Hamad Al Shamsan rose highest to nod Yuri’s free-kick into the net in the 96th minute, rescuing a point. In the frantic closing stages, tempers flared when Al Najma’s Serbian defender Dušan Joković was sent off, adding to the frustration of head coach Mohamed Shamlan whose side ultimately had to settle for a point.

Both matches highlighted the drama to come in a campaign played in a double round-robin format. The first round will stretch to matchweek 11, beginning January 8, 2026, before the second phase is scheduled later.