Khaldiya, Hala claim tight victories

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Al Khaldiya and Al Hala were both victorious last night as week 12 kicked off in the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

Khaldiya edged past a battling Al Shabab 1-0 while Hala outclassed Budaiya 2-0.

The games were played simultaneously at different venues. In Khaldiya’s victory, both teams played to a goalless deadlock in the first half but then Brazilian professional Luiz Fernando put his team ahead in the 54th minute.

Fernando struck from the outside edge of the six-yard box after teammate Samy Frioui missed making contact with a header.

The ball fell to the path of Fernando, and he sent it home on just a single touch with his left foot.

That eventually spelled the difference between the two sides as Khaldiya came away with the full three points with their sixth win in 12 outings.

Shabab were handed their eighth loss and stayed second-to-last on the table.

Meanwhile, in Hala’s win, Mali professional Amara Bagayoko had a second-half brace to help lift his side to their triumph against Budaiya. Bagayoko came on as a substitute and put Hala ahead in the 68th minute.

He received a headed pass in the box, set up his shot with two touches and then sent the ball home with his third.

Hala were well on their way to the fine result but not without Bagayoko adding to his account in virtually his team’s last possession of the contest.

In the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, Bagayoko fired in a brilliant left-footed volley off a cross from the left supplied by Fahad Jassim Bushrar.

That applied the final nail in the coffin as Hala came away with their fourth win and improved to 18 points.

Bottomof-the-table Budaiya suffered their league-worst 10th loss and remained winless after 12 games with only two points.

League action continues tonight with three matches on schedule.

At 5.45pm, defending champions Riffa take on Bahrain Club while current leaders Muharraq face off with Sitra at another match venue.

Then, at 8.45pm, the night’s late match will be between East Riffa and Al Ahli.