Riffa, East Riffa claim hard-earned victories

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Riffa and East Riffa were both victorious last night in their week 11 matches of the 2021/2022 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League. Riffa edged past a battling Al Khaldiya 1-0 to extend their lead atop the standings, while East Riffa took care of Al Najma 3-1 to rise to third on the table.

Both games were played at the National Stadium in Riffa. Mohammad Suleiman Anez scored the lone goal for back to-back defending league champions Riffa in their win against Khaldiya. Anez was on target in the eighth minute of the match. He fired in a fine shot from the edge of the box off an assist from Mouaiad Samir Alajaan.

Mohamed Jassim Marhoon found an unmarked Alajaan on the left of the box, and then he made the perfect pass to set up Anez for his shot, which he sent to the bottom-right corner of the net past Khaldiya’s goalkeeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi.

That proved to be the only goal of the contest, despite both teams having a number of opportunities to add to the scoreline. Riffa claimed their league-leading ninth win in 11 matches—with zero losses—and improved to 29 points on the table. Khaldiya suffered their third loss and remained on 18 points in fourth place.

In East Riffa’s win, they needed to battle back from a goal down after Najma took the lead early in the first half from Mohammed Awlad, off a rebound. After a Najma header was stopped by East Riffa’s Hamad Al Doseri, the ball went directly to Awlad in the face of goal, and all he needed to do was tap it home with his left foot to make it 1-0.

East Riffa was able to level the proceedings, however, with a penalty. Obus Prince Aggreh was taken down in the box by Najma’s Vincent Emmanuel, and Saeed Marjan stepped forward to take the spot-kick, which he sent to the top-left corner of the goal.

East Riffa then gained the advantage prior to halftime with a wonder goal from Omar Duaij Mohammed from an acute angle near the left corner. His shot stunned the Najma goalkeeper, and it was enough to send East Riffa into the locker rooms ahead. East Riffa then sealed the win in the 71st minute through Sami Al Hossaini.

He received a brilliant through-pass from substitute Luiz Fernando Correa Sales, and Al Hossaini made no mistake with his powerful effort from close range. The result earned East Riffa their sixth win in 11 matches as they improved to 21 points on the table. Najma suffered their seventh loss and stayed on six points in second-to-last place.

League action is scheduled to continue on Friday, with Riffa facing Al Hala, Khaldiya taking on Budaiya and East Riffa playing Al Ahli. On Saturday, Manama plays Najma while AFC Cup champions Muharraq take on Hidd.