Riffa claim late victory

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Ali Hassan Saeed scored a late winner to help lift Riffa to a stunning 1-0 victory over defending champions Al Khaldiya last night in the 2023/2024 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

The match, played at the National Stadium in Riffa, was a titanic clash between the league’s last two title winners. After nearly the entire contest without any goals, Saeed broke through three minutes from full time to give his side the full three points.

Riffa have played two games less than the rest of most of the league due to their participation in this season’s AFC Cup. They are currently in the tournament’s group stage but have already qualified for the knockout rounds.

Their victory last night propelled them into the top four of the league table, where they are tied on points with Khaldiya and East Riffa but have the two matches in hand. They are also just a point behind current solo leaders Al Ahli.

Khaldiya suffered their first loss of the new campaign. Riffa’s Komail Al Aswad came close to breaking the deadlock on either side of half-time yesterday. A Khaldiya attempt was also cleared off the line in the 32nd minute. After the break, both teams continued to find the winner and Riffa were finally able to score with Saeed’s left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty box. His attempt came after his pass to teammate Hashem Sayed Issa was blocked by the Khaldiya defence.

He made no mistake with his single touch, which he sent past Khaldiya goalkeeper Mohammed Abdulrahim Al Gharabli. Meanwhile, in yesterday’s other game, Sitra claimed a hard-earned 2-1 win over Al Shabab. Sitra opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Amir Roustaei, who found the net from inside the box off an assist supplied by teammate Abdulwasea Al Matari.

Earlier in the game in the fifth minute, Al Matari missed an opportunity to take the lead as his shot from the penalty spot was masterfully saved by Shabab goalkeeper Hamad Al Dosari. Nonetheless, Sitra were able to go 2-0 up when Khalifa Issa Al Lafi scored in the 43rd minute, again off a pass by Al Matari on a quick counterattack.

Shabab got a goal back in the 83rd minute when team captain Hussain Al Qassab hit a free-kick into the box and James Olufade Adewale was able to tap the ball home from the face of goal following another headed pass. Shabab tried until the very last whistle to draw level but they could not find the opportunity.

Sitra claimed only their second win in seven league matches as they improved to nine points. Shabab, on the other hand, suffered their fourth loss and stayed on seven markers. Last night’s games wrapped up the eighth week of action in the 2023/2024 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.