Drama at the Death as Al Najma and Budaiya Win

TDT | Manama

Email: hussain@newsofbahrain.com

Week 6 of the Nasser Bin Hamad Premier League delivered drama from start to finish, with Al Najma and Budaiya both leaving their mark on the standings. Al Najma overcame Al Shabab with a late second goal, while Budaiya stunned Al Hidd with a stoppage-time winner.

At Khalifa Sports City, Al Najma were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute after Bruno de Andrade Ritter was brought down by Mujtaba Abdali. Achraf Douiri’s spot-kick was saved by Mahmood AlAjmi, but Shamlan’s men quickly regained momentum. In the 23rd minute, Mohammed Qayoom capitalised on a defensive error as Chikamuso Okechukwu’s header fell to him, rolling the ball into the far corner. The match stayed finely balanced until the 85th minute, when Ali Aldoseri took advantage of another lapse, rounding the keeper to seal a 2-0 win. Al Najma move to 10th with five points, while Al Shabab remain 11th.

Meanwhile, at Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Stadium, Budaiya struck early in the 6th minute through Adriano Suarez, finishing a counter-attack after Hidd failed to clear their lines. Hidd responded in the 30th minute as Bekaye Wade converted a curving free-kick from Essa Musa. Budaiya thought they had regained the lead later, but Suarez’s goal was ruled out by VAR for handball. The drama then continued into stoppage time (90+9) when Abdulla Al Bahrani bundled in the rebound from a penalty after Hidd’s Ahmed Flamerze was penalised. Budaiya move to sixth with eight points, while Hidd sit fourth on seven.

Week 6 concludes tonight with Riffa hosting Al Khaldiya at Khalifa Sports City (7pm). Both teams are on nine points, and a win for Riffa could see them leap to the top of the table.