Muharraq suffer blow to title hopes

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Muharraq suffered a major blow to their title hopes as they were held to a goalless stalemate by Al Ahli last night in their week 21 contest of the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

Muharraq are one of five teams still with a mathematical chance at securing the crown, but dropped two crucial points with the draw and remained two behind leaders Manama, who have a game in hand.

Muharraq have just one match remaining—a must-win to have any shot at the championship.

Meanwhile, defending champions Riffa kept their slim hopes of repeating alive with a 4-1 victory over Al Hala.

In last night’s third fixture, Hidd were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Shabab.

Muharraq’s goalless result against Ahli was their 10th draw in 21 matches as they went to 37 points.

Manama continue to lead with 39, followed by Al Khaldiya with 38 and Sitra with 37.

All three of those teams are in action this evening. Ahli went to 30 points to solidify their place in the top half of the league standings.

In Riffa’s win, last year’s title winners battled back after conceding the game’s opening goal.

Amin Al Shanaina was the star man, scoring a brace and supplying the assist for another goal. Yahya Anfahi opened the scoring for Hala with a strike from the edge of the penalty area in only the third minute of action.

But Riffa quickly equalised just two minutes later through Al Shanaina from an acute angle in the box.

Riffa then took the lead in the 35th through Ali Hassan following a fine play off a free-kick that caught the Hala defence sleeping.

After the break, Hazza Ali scored in the 51st minute off a pass from Al Shanaina, who then supplied his team’s fourth goal just two minutes later from close range.

Riffa captured their 10th win and rose to 36 points, while Hala suffered their 10th loss and stayed on 21.

In the Hidd-Shabab deadlock, Thiago Augusto had both Hidd goals.

He first headed home in the 32nd minute and then was then on target once again in only the second minute of the second half.

Shabab got one back in the 53rd minute through Ali Mohammed Redha with a rebounded effort, and the Hussain Al Qassab equalised with a header off a corner kick in the 64th minute.

Hidd improved to 27 points with their sixth draw, while Shabab went to 26 with their fifth stalemate.

Tonight, Manama take on East Riffa, Khaldiya face off with Budaiya and Sitra play Bahrain Club. All matches are scheduled for 7pm kick-offs at separate venues.