Muharraq salvage crucial draw with East Riffa

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Muharraq moved to the top of the table last night in the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League—but only on goal difference. After being held to a 2-2 draw by East Riffa in their week 19 fixture, Muharraq tied former solo leaders Manama on 34 points but went ahead of their rivals with a superior goal difference in the tremendously tight title race. Manama, however, have a game in hand.

Waleed Al Hayam scored a brace for Muharraq yesterday, including a late equalising goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. On target for East Riffa were Salem Issa Al Doseri and Ogenyi Eddy Onazi.

Al Hayam opened the scoring in the 29th minute following a brilliant one-two with Muhammad Sulumba. His shot from inside the box took a deflection on its way into the net, and it was enough to give his side the lead at the interval.

After the restart, East Riffa were given a penalty when Obus Prince Aggreh was taken down by Mohammed Al Banna in the 67th minute. Onazi stepped up to take the spot kick, which he shot to the left of goal.

Muharraq then had a Sulumba goal in the 70th minute disallowed for an offside infarction. Shortly after, Al Doseri put East Riffa ahead in the 83rd minute with some brilliant individual skill, rounding his defender and hitting a low, left-footed effort.

Muharraq’s veteran international goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaafar got his hands on the ball, but not enough to prevent it from going in. With Muharraq desperate to find an equaliser, their efforts were finally rewarded when Al Hayam headed home off a cross by teammate Hussain Jameel from the right wing.

With the result, Muharraq registered their seventh stalemate in 18 games while East Riffa had their eighth, as they went to 20 points in the bottom half of the table.

Meanwhile, in last night’s other match, Bahrain Club and Al Ahli played to a 1-1 draw. Bahrain Club open scoring in 21st minute through Ahmed Saleh Rashid, who was on the receiving end of a fine throughpass. He made a clinical finish with a low, left-footed effort.

Ahli were able to get a goal back in the 58th minute through Abdulla Al Hashash, who tapped the ball in from the face of goal off a cross from the right. Bahrain Club improved to 14 points but are still in danger of automatic relegation, while Ahli went to 28 points in the middle of the standings.

Week 19 action continues tonight with another two matches on schedule. Budaiya take on Hidd while leaders Manama face off with Al Shabab, both kicking off at 9.45pm.

Tomorrow, defending champions Riffa take on Al Khalidya, while Sitra face off with recently crowned His Majesty the King’s Cup champions Al Hala, also starting at 9.45pm.