Ahli break Manama hearts in draw

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Al Ahli spoiled a potential party for Manama last night in the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

Needing a victory to move ahead in the tremendously tight title race, Manama took the lead in the second-half, only for Ahli to equalise with just four minutes left in regular time to send the match into a 1-1 deadlock at the final whistle.

Substitute Khalifa Issa Al Lafi had put Manama ahead in the 70th minute, but Ahli sub Abdulla Al Bahrani equalised to break Manama hearts.

With the result, Manama are now tied with Al Khaldiya on 41 points apiece on the league standings, but Khaldiya are in first place on goal difference and with one match still to play.

Khaldiya will play that game on Thursday against Bahrain Club, and will need only a draw to secure the all-new champions’ shield, which has been given a fresh look by the Bahrain Football Association.

Khaldiya must not lose by more than three goals as they currently enjoy that gap on goal difference on the league table.

Al Lafi’s goal came after he took advantage of some porous Ahli defending and pounced on an uncleared ball inside the penalty box.

He made no mistake in slotting home past Ahli goalkeeper Ebrahim Luthfallah into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Ahli had a few opportunities to try and come away with a share of the points and were finally rewarded in the 86th minute.

Al Bahrani sent home a volley off a brilliantly lobbed pass.

Al Bahrani was in the perfect position right in front of goal to receive the ball, and he hit a perfect shot against Manama goalkeeper Mohammed Hassan.

With the result, Ahli went to 31 points and finished the season in sixth place overall amongst the 12 teams.

Meanwhile, also taking place Thursday will be another crucial match between East Riffa and Al Hala.

Both teams are trying to avoid relegation, along with Bahrain Club, and this fixture will decide the final rankings for the season.

East Riffa and Hala are presently tied on the table with 21 points apiece, with East Riffa in ninth and Hala in 10th place, respectively, on goal difference.

Bahrain Club, who will have a tough task against title-chasing Khaldiya, are on 18 points in 11th place.

Whichever team finishes ninth and 10th will take to the pitch in relegation play-offs against the third and fourthranked clubs from Bahrain’s second division.

The 11th-ranked side will join bottom-of-the-table club Budaiya in the lower-tier league next season.