Ahli storm back in fine win over East Riffa

TDT | Manama                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

Al Ahli came away with a rousing 4-2 victory over East Riffa last night in their week six clash in the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League. Ahli took a two-goal advantage early but then East Riffa were able to answer back and equalise.

Goals from Zakaria Ismaili and Faisal Hassan Haji later restored Ahli’s lead, and earned them the full three points. Ahli star Jamal Rashed opened the scoring in only the fourth minute after receiving a cross from the left wing and tapping into the net from close range.

Just eight minutes later, Ahli’s dream start continued as they were handed a penalty after Hassan Madan was taken down in the penalty area off a fine Rashed through-ball. Abdulla Al Hashash stepped forward to take the spot kick, and he made no mistake with his effort.

But East Riffa battled back, and Sami Al Hossaini got their first goal in the 30th minute from inside the box off a long assist from more than past the half-field line. In the second half, East Riffa scored their equaliser four minutes after the hour-mark through Abdulla Shalal.

Teammate Omar Duaij Mohammed delivered a rocket freekick from distance that could not be collected by Ahli goalkeeper Ebrahim Luthfallah. Shalal was the first to get to the rebound and he fired the loose ball into the net.

East Riffa’s celebrations were shortlived, however, as in the 70th minute, Ismaili headed in from close range after a left corner-kick was uncleared by the opposing defence. Then, Ahli applied the final nail in the coffin in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time with a fine display of individual skill from Haji.

He rounded his marker and evaded the goalkeeper before cheekily sending the ball into the net. Ahli registered their third win in six matches while handing East Riffa their second loss. Meanwhile, in yesterday’s other game, Manama was able to salvage a 1-1 draw against Bahrain Club after their rivals conceded an own goal.

Jair Vinicius Alves De Brito opened the scoring for Bahrain Club in the 51st minute after firing in from the edge of the six-yard box with a fine volley. But in the 76th minute, after a fine defensive stop at the goal line, Khaled Waleed sent the ball into his own net in a mistake that ensured the teams shared the points. Both Manama and Bahrain Club claimed their third draws.