Eight-man Riffa undone as Al Khaldiya strike late

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Al Khaldiya came from behind to beat fellow title contenders Riffa 2-1, who were shockingly reduced to eight men, in last night’s affair at Bahrain National Stadium. The win not only retains Al Khaldiya’s top spot in the Nasser Bin Hamad Premier League, but also sets the stage for this Friday’s King’s Cup semi-final, where the two sides will meet again.

From the outset, Al Khaldiya imposed themselves on proceedings. Under Tunisian head coach Lassad Al Chabbi, they pressed high and created early openings, with Joel Beya at the centre of much of their attacking play. However, Riffa, managed by Kuwaiti coach Mohamed Mashaan, found a resilient figure in goalkeeper Džiugas Bartkus, who denied Beya on multiple occasions.

Despite Al Khaldiya’s dominance, it was Riffa who struck first. Just before the interval, referee Mohammed Khalid pointed to the spot following a VAR review, adjudging Clyde O’Connell to have fouled Yuri in an aerial duel. Rodrigo Yuri calmly converted his penalty to give Riffa a 1-0 lead, against the run of play.

Momentum shifted almost immediately. In stoppage time of the first half, Riffa’s Thiago Fernandez was dismissed for a second yellow card after an elbow on Mohammed Adel, leaving his side with 10 men heading into the break.

Al Khaldiya capitalised after the restart. Substitute Nizar Al Otmani delivered a low ball into the area that deflected off Yaqoob Diara for an own goal, restoring parity in the 57th minute.

What followed was a remarkable sequence. Riffa were reduced to nine men when Bartkus received a second booking for bringing down Al Otmani. Replacement goalkeeper Abdulkarim Al Fardan briefly emerged as a hero, saving Saifeddine Bouhra’s penalty. Minutes later, Al Fardan was also sent off for fouling Gleison Moreira outside the box, forcing outfield player Rodrigo Yuri into goal. Al Khaldiya pressed but still faced resistance.

Despite being three men down, Riffa nearly snatched victory when Wellington Moreira produced a brilliant rainbow flick before surging down the byline and firing narrowly over. In stoppage time, Al Khaldiya were initially awarded a penalty after Bouhra was brought down by Riffa captain Jassim Al Shaikh, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review. Moments later, Bouhra unleashed a powerful strike from distance that found the corner and sealed a remarkable win.

The result lifts Al Khaldiya back to the top of the table on 42 points, while Riffa remain third, bringing Matchweek 17 of the league to a close. Attention now turns to this weekend’s cup semi-final, where the two sides are set for another explosive clash.

In the later game yesterday, Al Ahli and Al Malkiya played out a goalless stalemate at Khalifa Sports City, leaving Al Ahli seventh on 20 points and Al Malkiya Moroccan Saifeddine Bouhra celebrates his last-gasp winner one place above on 24.