Muharraq Go Top After Win Over Al Khaldiya

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The Nasser bin Hamad Premier League title race will go down to the final day as reigning champions Muharraq came from behind to beat leaders Al Khaldiya 2–1 in a dramatic Matchweek 21 contest at Bahrain National Stadium last night.

Al Khaldiya arrived knowing a win would seal the championship with a game to spare, and they started like champions in waiting. Inside the opening minute, Hazza Ali almost delivered a sensational opener, striking from long range and forcing Vladan Djekic into a fingertip save that rattled the crossbar.

Their pressure was rewarded in the 11th minute. Captain Dominique Mendy arrived perfectly to meet a cutback from the right and struck a first-time finish into the top corner, giving the leaders a dream start and putting one hand on the trophy.

Muharraq, however, refused to collapse. Hussain Abdulkarim wasted a golden chance to respond, but the momentum was already tilting. In the 24th minute, Abdulkarim was brought down in the box by Mohammed Adel, and Arthur Rezende calmly converted the penalty to bring Muharraq level.

What followed was a complete swing in momentum. Eleven minutes later, the holders struck again. Soufiane Mahrouk kept a loose ball alive at the byline and clipped in a second delivery, where Rezende controlled brilliantly and fired a half-volley beyond Ricardo Silva for his second goal of the night.

Al Khaldiya’s night unravelled further; with less than 20 minutes remaining, goalkeeper Silva was sent off. Racing out to clear a counterattack, the Portuguese misjudged the flight of the ball and handled outside the penalty area.

Even then, they almost rescued a point in stoppage time. Mohammed Adel drilled a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but Joel Beya failed to apply the finishing touch from close range.

There was still time for one final twist. Muharraq thought they had sealed the result when Facundo Tobares rolled into an empty net after substitute goalkeeper Hamad Al Doseri collided with Sami Frioui, but the goal was ruled out for a foul.

The result means Muharraq leapfrog Al Khaldiya to move top on 52 points, one ahead of Khaldiya going into Friday’s final round. Muharraq will now face A’ali knowing victory guarantees the championship, while Al Khaldiya must beat Al Najma and hope their rivals drop points.

Elsewhere, Al Hidd climbed above Al Ahli into sixth place after a 1-0 win at Khalifa Sports City.

After a tight first half, Mohammed Al Al Akash scored the decisive goal in the 58th minute — his sixth league goal of the campaign. Walid Karoui’s blocked effort fell kindly into his path, and the forward made no mistake from inside the area.

The win moves Shukri Al Bajawi’s side onto 28 points, while Al Ahli drop to seventh on 26.

At Al Ahli Stadium, Riffa strengthened their hold on third place with a 2-0 win over Al Malkiya.

Al Malkiya thought they had taken the lead through Isa Al Bari midway through the first half, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Riffa eventually broke through in the 64th minute when Wellington Machado surged down the left before finding Gabriel Monteiro, who guided his finish into the far corner.

Samuel Toscas wrapped up the victory deep into stoppage time with a spectacular half-volley from outside the area that flew into the near post.

The result keeps Riffa third on 46 points, while Al Malkiya remain fourth on 33.

Attention now turns to Friday’s final round, with all 12 league sides in action and the title race still hanging in the balance.