Khaldiya hit seven in league opener

TDT | Manama

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Al Khaldiya sent out an early statement of intent as they thrashed Al Najma 7-2 last night on the opening day of the 2026-27 Nasser bin Hamad Premier League.

Last season’s runners-up were five goals ahead by half-time at Al Ahli Club Stadium, giving newly appointed Croatian head coach Goran Tomić a dream introduction to Bahraini football.

Ousman AlHajj and Nizar El Otmani struck braces, while debutant Walid Sabbar, Gleison Moreira and captain Mehdi Humaidan were also on target.

In the evening’s other match, Sitra opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Malkiya at the National Stadium, with all three goals remarkably coming in first or second-half stoppage time.

Khaldiya, who finished just a point behind champions Muharraq last season, wasted little time asserting themselves against a Najma side that narrowly avoided relegation in 2025-26.

They went ahead in the 13th minute after a VAR check resulted in a penalty for shirt-pulling at a corner. Moroccan midfielder Sabbar sent goalkeeper Ammar Mohammed the wrong way to mark his Khaldiya debut with a goal.

AlHajj doubled the advantage six minutes later, tapping in Saifeddine Bouhra’s low delivery, before completing his brace in the 35th minute after Oussama Shili squared for him to slide home.

Khaldiya then struck twice in first-half stoppage time to effectively end the contest. Dominique Mendy picked out Moreira with a fine ball over the defence for the Brazilian to volley in off the post, before Humaidan converted the rebound from another Mendy effort.

The latter marked his return from a loan spell in Kuwait with a goal as Khaldiya entered the break 5-0 ahead.

Najma pulled one back through Mohammed Adel’s own goal six minutes after the restart, but El Otmani restored the five-goal cushion with a deflected effort in the 62nd minute.

Conceicao made it 6-2 in the 80th before Najma captain Ammar saved Bouhra’s stoppage-time penalty. El Otmani then broke clear shortly afterwards to complete his brace and the 7-2 rout.

At the National Stadium, Sitra captain Ali Haram broke the deadlock against Malkiya in first-half stoppage time, reacting quickest to convert the rebound after his penalty struck the post.

The score remained 1-0 until second-half stoppage time, when Haram turned provider, chesting the ball into the path of substitute Ali AlAsfoor, who controlled and finished past Malkiya goalkeeper Sayed Ali Hussain.

Malkiya’s Hadi Ghazi was then shown a second yellow after conceding another penalty, with Ali Nasser converting from the spot with virtually the last kick to complete Sitra’s 3-0 win.

The opening matchweek continues tonight with two more 7pm kick-offs.

Defending champions Muharraq begin their pursuit of a third successive crown when they face long-time rivals Al Ahli in the Kingdom’s Clasico at the National Stadium.

At the same time, newly promoted East Riffa make their return to the top flight against Hidd at Al Ahli Club Stadium.

Matchweek one concludes tomorrow, with Riffa taking on Al Ittifaq at the National Stadium and A’ali facing Manama at Al Ahli. Both matches also kick off at 7pm.