Suqoor Al Bahrain, Al Ameed shine

Manama : Suqoor Al Bahrain Team and Al Ameed shared the spoils in the opening match of Nasser 9 Football Tournament, being held at Khalifa Sports City Football Stadium. Both of the teams are contesting in Group 1.

However, the referee blew the final whistle with the score at 2-2. Ahmed Ayef of Al Ameed broke the deadlock after 22 minutes into the match, but Somoal Al Sir equalised for Al Ameed just two minutes before the break. The last twenty minutes of the game was filled with excitement as Somoal Al Sir completed his brace with a goal in the 70th minute to put his team ahead. But as the match was heading into its last minutes, Salim Mousa tapped in the 85th minute to secure one point for his team.

Modest first half

Both of the teams showed a modest display in the first half of the match, though Suqoor Al Bahrain was the better team in the opening ten minutes. Omar Mohammed of Suqoor Al Bahrain could have fired his team ahead, but missed a one-on-one opportunity with only goalkeeper to beat. As the match progressed, Suqoor Al Bahrain switched from attacking to defending and this allowed Al Ameed to take the lead through Ahmed Ayef who headed home a corner.

Suqoor Al Bahrain searched for an equaliser as the team found its balance again. And the team’s efforts got almost rewarded in the 38th minute as brace-scorer Somoal Al Sir misfired after going face-to-face with the opponent’s goalkeeper. After five minutes, however, he scored a bouncing ball from the goalkeeper. In the stoppage time of the first half, Suqoor Al Bahrain almost took the lead, but Abdulrahman Sultan failed to convert a one-on-one opportunity with the opponent’s goalkeeper. 

A fair draw

The second period of the match saw Al Ameed attacking in numbers in search of the lead. But their approach could have backfired as Ali Mesad of failed to fire home teammate Salim Mousa’s accurate cross. Suqoor Al Bahrain continued relying on the counter-attack, and such a tactic paid-off when Somoal Al Sir scored in the 70th minute. In the 85th minute Salim Mousa’s pegged back Al Ameed and ensured earning a valuable point in the process.