Al Khaldiya go top in Nasser bin Hamad football league

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Al Khaldiya rose to the top of the standings in the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League last night following a resounding 5-3 victory over Hidd in their week 16 match.

Meanwhile, defending champions Riffa were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Al Ahli in yesterday’s other fixture.

Mahdi Humaidan scored a brace to help lift Khalidya in their victory, with goals also coming from Ismaeel Abdullatif, Ayman Al Harzi and Luiz Fernando Correa Sales for the winners.

Humaidan opened the scoring in the 25th minute from close range, and then Abdullatif made it 2-0 11 minutes later.

In the 41st minute Talal Al Sherooqi was able to register Hidd’s first goal with a free-kick that was deflected on its way to the net.

But Humaidan restored Khaldiya’s two-goal advantage in the 52nd minute, and then Al Harzi made it 4-1 in the 65th.

Issa Jehad fired in Hidd’s second goal with a brilliant volley from distance in the 72nd minute, but Khaldiya were not done and they scored their fifth in the 79th minute through substitute Sales.

Abdulfattah Basheer then netted a third for Hidd on the stroke of regular time to peg the final score.

Khaldiya claimed their ninth win in the league and improved to 30 points, leapfrogging Manama to first place on the table.

Manama, however, have a game in hand. Hidd suffered their seventh loss and stayed on 19 points.

Meanwhile, Komail Al Aswad and Jamal Rashid were both on target for their respective sides in Riffa’s draw with Ahli.

Humaidan opened the scoring for Riffa in the 35th minute on a quick counterattack and off a brilliant through-pass from Ali Haram.

Ahli equalised in the 55th minute when Rashid scored from close range off a cross from Hassan Jaafar Madan from the left of the box.

Riffa went to 26 points in fifth on the table while Ahli improved to 21 points one place behind.

League action continues tonight with Manama facing Al Hala and Al Shabab taking on Bahrain Club.

Tomorrow, East Riffa take on Sitra and Muharraq play Budaiya.