Manama return to top with draw

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Manama returned to first place on the league standings last night despite dropping points in their week 19 match in the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

Manama were held to a goalless draw by Al Shabab in a tightly contested affair that failed to produce any goals despite both teams having a number of chances.

With the result, Manama’s share of the points was enough to put them back in the driver’s seat in the tremendously tight title race, in which up to six teams are with a chance heading into the final handful of match days of the season.

Manama moved to 35 markers—just one ahead of Muharraq, three in front of Al Khaldiya, four from Sitra, and five ahead of defending champions Riffa.

Mahdi Abduljabbar had multiple opportunities to score for Manama in both halves last night. He first hit the crossbar on the stroke of half-time, and then came close again in the 77th minute.

Shabab’s Jawad Al Alawi had a shot from close range blocked in the face of goal, and then teammate Mouhamed Fall almost had his header bounce into the net in the 83rd minute.

But Manama’s Ammar Abbas was able to make a crucial save and preserve the goalless score line.

Abduljabbar had another chance in the first minute of second-half stoppage time with a free-kick from distance.

His shot was on target but was comfortably punched away by Shabab’s Hamad Al Doseri.

Then, in the 94th minute, Abduljabbar came close another time but his effort flew inches wide of the right post.

With the result, Manama posted their fifth draw, while Shabab had their third to go to 24 points.

In last night’s other match, Hidd edge past Budaiya 1-0.

Thiago Augusto Fernandes headed home the winning goal in the 83rd minute off a long cross from Talal Al Shorooqi on the left wing.

Fernandes was able to outjump Budaiya goalkeeper Salman Al Doseri to the ball and did enough to send it into the net under pressure.

Hidd improved to 23 points with their sixth win while Budaiya suffered their leagueworst 15th loss to stay on five markers.

Week 19 action concludes tonight when Riffa take on Khalidya at 9.45pm, and Sitra face off with recently crowned His Majesty the King’s Cup champions Al Hala, also starting at 9.45pm.