Riffa Thrash Budaiya to Stay in Title Hunt

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Matchday 15 of the Nasser Bin Hamad Premier League continued last night with Riffa producing a comfortable 3–0 win over Budaiya at Bahrain National Stadium, matching the scoreline from the reverse fixture and keeping their title charge firmly on track.

Fresh from their Khalid bin Hamad Cup final triumph, Mohamed Mashaan’s side carried momentum into the contest but were initially wasteful. Rodrigo Yuri dragged an effort inches wide in the 11th minute and then missed again in the 26th, firing a close-range half volley off target after a rebound fell kindly inside the box.

Budaiya, led by Sayed Hassan Isa, thought they had earned a penalty in the 23rd minute for a suspected handball on Sayed Mahmood AlMoosawi, only for VAR to overturn the decision after a lengthy review.

The breakthrough arrived three minutes before the interval. Following another VAR check, Budaiya's defender was penalised for handball while sliding to block a cross, his trailing arm catching the ball inside the area. The decision sparked furious protests from the Budaiya bench, resulting in a red card for an official. Yuri stepped up and converted confidently to hand Riffa a deserved lead.

Riffa goalkeeper Džiugas Bartkus preserved the advantage with a superb point-blank save in first-half stoppage time, ensuring his side went into the break ahead.

The contest swung decisively in the closing stages. Substitute Ebrahim Al Khattal doubled the lead deep into stoppage time after Sayed Hashim Isa latched onto a header, dummied his marker cleverly and slipped the ball into Al Khattal’s path for a simple finish.

Budaiya’s frustrations then boiled over as Ali Khalil was shown a red card, initially for a last-man challenge and subsequently for dissent after arguing with the referee. Riffa capitalised immediately. Al Khattal turned provider, squaring for Ali Hassan Saeed to tap in a third as the final act of the match.

The win lifts Riffa to 33 points in third place, level with Al Khaldiya and Muharraq, while holding a game in hand. Budaiya remain sixth on 18 points.

Elsewhere, Al Shabab stunned A’ali 1–0, with Daniel Omokhoa converting a 73rd-minute penalty to secure just their second victory of the season. Matchday 15 continues tonight as Al Ahli face Al Najma at Khalifa Sports City, and Muharraq meet Bahrain Club at Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Stadium, with both matches kicking off at 9pm.