Al Khaldiya go top of the table

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Al Khaldiya powered to the top of the table after week 15 of the 2023/2024 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

The defending champions posted a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Busaiteen in their latest clash, earning them the full three points to help them rise to first place.

Ali Al Sharqawi scored the winner for Khaldiya in the seventh minute. He fired in with a curling shot from the left edge of the box that flew into the topright corner of the net. His strike was enough to separate the two sides, as Khaldiya claimed their eighth win in 15 matches and improved to 30 points.

They handed Busateen their sixth loss and they stayed on 15 markers. Khaldiya were able to emerge as solo leaders after chief title rivals Riffa and Muharraq dropped points.

Riffa suffered a stunning 2-4 loss to Al Shabab in their week 15 match, while Muharraq were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Ahli.

In Riffa’s defeat, Shabab scored all four of their goals in the second half.

Faisal Budahoom put Shabab ahead in the 53rd minute, and then Mateus Eduardo Inforsatti Araujo doubled their advantage just three minutes later.

Sayed Hashem Issa then cut the deficit for Riffa in the 67th minute, but Alyson Romeu Dantas De Andrade restored their two-goal advantage in the 85th minute.

Substitute Lucas Ventura Lopes then applied the final nail in the coffin on the stroke of full time, and then Komail Al Aswad scored a second consolation for Riffa two minutes later.

Shabab posted only their fourth win of the season as they went to 17 points, while handing Riffa their third loss as they remained on 28 points—two behind the leaders.

In Muharraq’s stalemate against Ahli, both teams had a chance to come away with the win but neither could hold on to their lead.

Ahli were first to strike through Joao Pedro Pereira Da Silva in the 15th minute, but Ahmed Al Sherooqi brought Muharraq back on level terms in the 35th.

After the break, Muharraq went ahead with a goal on the hour-mark by Soufiane Mahrouq, while Mohammed Al Shamsi found the net five minutes from regular time to secure a share of the points.

Muharraq went to 25 in third place on the standings while Ahli rose to 22 points.

In other week 15 matches, goals from Elvis Marley Aparecido Bittncourt and Facundo Agustin Tobares helped lift Manama to a 2-1 win over Sitra, Mohammed Al Rumaihi was on target for Al Najma as they edged past East Riffa 1-0, and Hidd outclassed Al Hala 2-0.