Tempers Flare as Muharraq Draw with Riffa

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier League returned last night after more than two weeks without action, with the title race tightening and Bahrain’s fiercest rivalry producing drama. Riffa and defending champions Muharraq played out a 1–1 draw, while Sitra secured a vital 3–0 win over Budaiya.

At Khalifa Sports City, Santos’ side struggled to break down Mashaan’s men in the first half, which ended goalless. Riffa looked the more dangerous side and created the clearest opportunities, while the Red Wolves were largely limited to half-chances. The breakthrough arrived nine minutes into the second half when Serbian striker Dejan Georgijevic capitalised on a defensive mistake, slotting first time past goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaffar.

Muharraq responded in stoppage time after Edimar Ribeiro da Costa was taken down in the box, allowing Arthur Rezende to calmly convert the penalty. Tempers flared immediately after, resulting in two red cards: Ahmed Abdulhameed for Riffa and Abdulla Al Khalasi for Muharraq.

Meanwhile, at Bahrain National Stadium, Abdulmajeed’s Sitra impressed against Budaiya under AlSayed Hassan Isa. Captain Othman Al Hajj opened the scoring in the second minute, slotting home a low finish from Mauritanian winger Bekaye Wade’s pass to mark his seventh goal of the season. He added a second in the 18th minute with a towering header from a Wade corner, before Karl Namnganda curled a stunning counter-attack strike into the top corner in the 85th minute to seal a 3–0 victory.

Both matches were briefly paused with around 15 minutes remaining due to safety sirens, reflecting ongoing difficulties in the kingdom, before play resumed.

The results leave Muharraq on 37 points, temporarily top of the table before league leaders Al Khaldiya play today. Riffa remain third on 34 points. Sitra move up to seventh on 18 points, with Budaiya dropping to eighth.

Matchday 16 continues tonight as Al Khaldiya face bottom-placed Bahrain Club, while Al Ahli take on Al Shabab, both at 9:30PM.