Manama claim crucial win in title race

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Manama claimed a crucial 1-0 victory over Bahrain Club last night to move three points clear atop the standings in week 18 of the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

Ahmed Nabeel scored the game’s lone goal in the second half to help lift Manama to their 10th triumph in 17 matches as the season heads towards the home stretch.

After a goalless first half, Manama got their winner from Nabeel, who was on the receiving end of a free-kick by teammate Issa Moussa.

The precision cross from nearly the half-field line went straight into the box, and Nabeel rose above his defenders to head home.

Manama were unlucky not to add to the score line later on in the second half, with Mohammed Al Marmour, Mahdi Abduljabbar and Mohammed Al Hallaq all coming close to doubling their advantage.

Abduljabbar had multiple chances, the best of which came in the 83rd minute when his attempt in the face of goal was cleared off the line by Bahrain Club’s Ahmed Habib Marhoun.

Bahrain Club tried valiantly to find an equaliser in the game’s closing stages but could not come up with the finishing touches.

With the result, Manama improved to 34 points in solo first place on the league table. Bahrain Club suffered their 10th loss and stayed on 13 as they are almost certainly headed for relegation.

Week 18 games continue tonight with defending champions Riffa squaring off with Sitra in another crucial match, while Al Khaldiya take on East Riffa. Both games are slated for 9.45pm kick-offs.

Sitra and Khaldiya are currently right behind Manama on the standings, tied on 31 points apiece, while Riffa are looking to close the gap being on 27 points.

The 18th week’s action will conclude on Sunday next week when Muharraq face Al Shabab. Muharraq are currently also in the tight title race in fourth place with 30 points.

Gearing up Meanwhile, Manama and Muharraq are getting ready to play the second-legs of their respective qualifying match-ups for the 2023 King Salman Clubs Cup—the region’s top tournament organised by the Union of Arab Football Associations, also known as the Arab Club Champions Cup.

Manama lost their first-leg clash 0-3 against Al Hilal Omdurman of Sudan, but will be looking to bounce back although have a mammoth task in their home game on April 10.

Muharraq, on the other hand, defeated Al Seeb of Oman 2-0 in their first-leg encounter. The Bahrainis will be hoping to close things out in the return-leg in Muscat, scheduled for tomorrow night.