East Riffa, Hala stay in premier league

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

East Riffa and Al Hala last night retained their places in next season’s Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

East Riffa kept their spot following a late 1-1 draw with A’ali in their match played at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town, while Hala maintained their position after defeating Al Ittifaq 1-0 at the Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz.

The four squads faced one another in league format, with yesterday’s games marking the end of these relegation play-offs.

As the top two on the standings, East Riffa and Hala stay in the top flight for the 2023/2024 campaign, while Ittifaq and A’ali will compete in the Kingdom’s second division.

In East Riffa’s draw with A’ali, the match had a dramatic ending when East Riffa’s Hussain Al Khayyat scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to salvage the share of the points.

Al Khayyat fired in a rocket from the edge of the penalty area to the top-right corner of goal—a crucial strike that helped them keep their place in the premier division.

Earlier in the contest, Sunday Divine Abalo scored for A’ali in the 73rd minute.

He stole possession away from East Riffa’s Obus Prince Aggreh, and then sent home a low effort from outside the penalty area, hitting the ball just well enough to beat goalkeeper Eyad Nasser Salem.

With the result, East Riffa went to five points on the relegation play-offs table for first place, while A’ali stayed last amongst the four teams with just two points.

Meanwhile, in Hala’s win over Ittifaq, Yahya Ahmed Anfahi was on target in the 14th minute from the face of goal, and his effort was enough to separate the two sides after 90 minutes.

Anfahi received a long cross from the left flank by Hala skipper Ali Adnan, and after the ball went uncleared, Anfahi made no mistake with his effort, shooting into the roof of the net.

Hala went to five points on the standings, level with East Riffa but with a lesser goal-difference.

Ittifaq stayed on three points and just missed out on promotion.

For next season, East Riffa, Hala and second division champions Al Najma along with runners-up Busaiteen are in the Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

They join this season’s champions Al Khaldiya, Manama, Muharraq, Riffa, Sitra, Al Ahli, Hidd and Al Shabab to complete the 12-club roster.

Bahrain Club and Budaiya were sent down to the lower tier as the bottom two clubs from this past season, joining Ittifaq and A’ali who stay in the second division.