East Riffa, Muharraq in thrilling draw

TDT | Manama                                                    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

East Riffa and Muharraq played to a thrilling 2-2 stalemate last night in their week nine clash of the 2023/2024 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League. Muharraq went ahead twice in the contest but East Riffa were able to level the scores both times.

Meanwhile, Sitra edged past Al Hala 1-0 in last night’s other game. Alexander Amponsah scored the winner in the second half. The ninth week of play concludes tonight with another two games on schedule.

Hidd face off with Busaiteen in a contest between the league’s two bottom clubs, while Manama play Al Najma. Both matches are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs at separate venues. In Muharraq’s draw with East Riffa, Sufyan Mahrouq put Muharraq in front after only nine minutes off a right corner-kick by Waleed Al Kouri.

Mahrouq was able to fire into the net after a scramble in the box, with East Riffa failing to clear. That was enough to give Muharraq the lead at the break. But just five minutes into the second-half, East Riffa were level and it was former Muharraq forward Thiago Augusto Fernandes who equalised.

Fernandes converted from close range after receiving a short pass while unmarked. He slotted home from an acute angle past veteran goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaafar. Muharraq quickly replied and were back in front just three minutes on.

Firas Shawat headed the ball in following an assist supplied by Hassan Karani. But East Riffa were not done, and Fernandes again brought them back on even terms. He rose above his Muharraq markers to head the ball in off a fine Ahmed Abdulla cross from the left. Neither team could add to the score line from there and had to settle for a share of the points. East Riffa had their second draw from nine matches and went to 14 points on the league table, just one ahead of Muharraq, who have 13 after posting their fourth draw, also from nine games.

Meanwhile, after a goalless first half, Sitra were gifted their decisive goal when Amponsah scored in the 71st minute with a header in a crowd. Sitra claimed only their third win in eight tries as they improved to 12 points. They leap-frogged Hala on the standings. Hala are also on 12 markers following their fifth loss, but Sitra have a superior goal difference.