Riffa hit three past Al Khaldiya

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Defending champions Riffa claimed a crucial 3-1 victory over Al Khaldiya last night in their week 11 match of the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

Four of the Kingdom’s international stars were on target in the contest, including Mohammed Jassim Marhoon, Mohammed Al Romaihi and Sayed Hashem Isa for Riffa, along with Mahdi Humaidan for Khaldiya.

All of Riffa’s goals came in a dominant first half. Marhoon opened his team’s account in the 18th minute with a header in traffic off a left-corner kick.

Al Romaihi then doubled their advantage 10 minutes later after heading home from the face of goal off.

A Marhoon shot was parried by Khaldiya goalkeeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi and the ball rebounded off the left post.

Marhoon was then able to get a kick in to set up a lob for Al Romaihi, who rose above the defence and sent the ball home.

Isa then completed their firsthalf barrage with an effort from the inside edge of the penalty area that should have been collected by Alawi.

The Khaldiya stopper got both his hands on the ball, but failed to control it fully and it rolled into the net.

Khaldiya were able to get a goal back early in the second half through Humaidan from the penalty spot.

Sayed Dhiya Saeed was taken down in the area, and the referee awarded the spot kick.

Neither side could add to the score line from then on and Riffa came away with their sixth win in 11 matches.

They improved to 19 points to go to third on the league standings. Riffa leapfrogged Khaldiya, who were previously third but now dropped on the table after suffering their third defeat.

They are on 18 points. Both Riffa and Khaldiya continued to be ranked behind leaders Muharraq and Manama.

Muharraq were last night held to a goalless draw by Sitra in yesterday’s late fixture.

They went to 23 points in first place, just two ahead of Manama, while Sitra improved to 17 points.

Both teams registered their fifth stalemates of the season.

In a third game last night, Hidd battled back from a single-goal deficit to defeat Budaiya 2-1.

Brazilian Thiago Augusto Fernandes converted a 93rd minute penalty with the scores tied at 1-1 and the match appeared headed for a deadlock.

Abdulla Ali Al Subaie was brought down in the box, and Thiago made no mistake with his effort, which he sent to the right of the net.

Earlier in the contest, Budaiya’s Frederick Ofori Acheampong put his team in front in the 68th minute with a wonderful volley from inside the box that flew into the top-left corner of goal.

Hidd fought back and equalised in the 83rd minute with a fine strike supplied by Abdelfattah Bashir, setting the stage for the late drama.

Hidd improved to 17 points on the standings with their fifth win, while Budaiya were handed their ninth loss and stayed at the bottom of the table with zero wins and just two points