Riffa outclass Al Najma to extend lead

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Leaders Riffa posted a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Al Najma last night in the 2020/2021 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League. Bahrain national team stars Komail Alaswad and Mahdi Humaidan were on target on either side of half-time for the victors.

Riffa came away with their 12th win in 14 matches and they extended their lead atop the league table to 11 points from their closest challengers. Alaswad put Riffa ahead in 34th minute with a brilliant curling free-kick from a yard outside the penalty box. The midfielder fired in a left-footed effort that swerved perfectly over the wall and beat diving Najma goalkeeper Abdulla Alkaabi, who was able to get a touch on the ball but not enough to make a save.

Humaidan added Riffa’s second in the 73rd minute.

He received a fine through-pass from Ali Madan, and then rounded the keeper to score from an acute angle. With the result, Riffa improved to 37 points while Najma stayed on 13 in the bottom half of the standings, after suffering their seventh loss.

In yesterday’s other match, Malkiya and Budaiya played to a goalless draw as both teams remained in danger of being relegated to the second division. The result was Malkiya’s sixth stalemate in 14 matches as they went to 12 points, while Budaiya were dealt their fifth deadlock as they improved to 11 points.

Both teams are ahead only of Busaiteen, who remain at the bottom of the table with eight points. Busaiteen are in action tonight as they take on Muharraq in the day’s late game at 7.45pm. Kicking off at 5.10pm at separate venues are East Riffa facing Hidd and Al Ahli taking on Manama.