BAHRAINSPORTS
DECEMBER 2013
BUSAITEEN,
MUHARRAQ
TRIUMPH
Text: JUAN DELA CRUZ
Pictures: AHMAD AL OJAIMI
D
ALL EYES ON THE BALL
Action from Muharraq’s win against Al Malkiya.
efending champions Busaiteen and top title challengers
Muharraq both claimed impressive victories last night
to cap an exciting opening weekend in the VIVA Bahrain
Premier League.
Busaiteen outclassed Sitra 3-1 in the first match at the Khalifa
Sports City stadium in Isa Town, and then Muharraq followed
suit with a 2-0 defeat of Al Malkiya in yesterday’s late game.
Following the results, both victors moved to the top of the
10-team standings with three points apiece.
League action continues on Friday with the second weekend
of matches.
In Busaiteen’s match with Sitra, national team star Sami Al
Hossaini helped lift his side in the contest with a first-half brace.
Al Hossaini first struck in the 25th minute to give his side the
early lead. He then doubled their advantage in the 40th minute to
put Busaiteen comfortably ahead 2-0 at the half.
In the second half, Hesham Mansoor fired in an unstoppable
rocket from the right flank to make it 3-0 for the victors after 77
minutes.
Sitra got one back, however, when they scored in the 80th
through rising youngster Abbas Al Sari. They had a chance
to further cut into Busaiteen’s lead just five minutes later, but
Mohamm ed Essa squandered his penalty kick after some good
work from opposing goalkeeper Hussain Haram.
With the win, Busaiteen kicked off their title-defence in style.
Looking to win back the crown this season after winning the
league a record 33 times, Muharraq also began their season with
a fine victory.
Veteran striker Hussain Ali and reliable defender Abdulla
Aman were on target for the recently crowned winners of this
year’s Bahrain Super Cup – a match they won against Busaiteen.
Ali opened Muharraq’s account in the 17th minute with a
short stab off a cross from the left.
Later, a minute from full time, Aman scored his goal in similar fashion, but this time heading into the net the precision cross
from teammate Waleed Al Hayam. Aman came charging in and in
the air beat another pair of Malkiya defenders to the ball to make
it 2-0.
Malkiya threated several times and were more than deserving to score, but Muharraq and Bahrain number one Sayed
Mohammed Jaffar was just too good between the posts.
On Friday, three matches are on the cards. Sitra take on Al
Shabab and Al Hala face off with Muharraq, while Riffa take on
Manama. THE GAME
sports magazine t h e g a m e
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