Al Ahly claimed a tough 22-21 victory over Al Najma to reach the final of the Bahrain Handball League yesterday.
The semi-final played at the Bahrain Handball Association hall in Um Al Hassam saw Al Najma fail to hold onto their lead and end the first half 10-10. Their performance dropped further in the second half while Al Ahly’s determination tilted the game in their favour.
Al Najma took an early 4-0 lead into the game as Al Ahly’s attackers failed to get their shots on target. However, a quick time-out requested by Al Ahly’s coach to strengthen his team followed by the introduction of Ali Hussein as a playmaker got Al Ahly back to the game. They scored twice to take the score to 4-2.
Al Ahly’s goalkeeper Salah Abdeljaleel put in a fantastic save to deny Al Najma a goal as Al Ahly managed to score their third of the night.
The match saw a seven-minute goal drought by Al Najma as Al Ahly strengthened their defensive line alongside a top-notch performance from Abdeljaeel.
The match then saw Al Ahly increase the number of players around the seven-metre area to pressure their opponents into allowing Sadeq Ali to shoot on goal. However, he failed to make use of them.
Al Najma managed to take the lead going 5-4 ahead but their player Ali Eid was given a two minute suspension in the 15th minute.
Al Ahly quickly took advantage of Eid’s suspension and managed to equalise. However Al Najma’s goalkeeper Mohammed Abdulhussein denied them any advantange with his world-class saves.
As Al Najma were leading 7-6, a miss pass saw Al Ahly’s Hussein give his team the equaliser once again before Eid took Al Najma a goal ahead.
Al Ahly managed to take the lead for the first time in the game towards the dying minutes going up 10-9 through Mohammed Madan. Al Najma’s Abdulhussein, however, gives his team the chance to equalise and end the first half 10-10.
Al Ahly started the second half in attacking fashion taking the lead through Ali Yousef, but Al Najma’s goalkeeper kept them from widening the gap.
Al Najma, meanwhile, began to look shaky despite their goalkeeper denying Al Ahly goals on numerous occasions.
Half way through the second half, both teams kept playing a strong offensive game and Al Najma claimed a 17-16 lead once again.
The dying minutes of the match were the most intense as Al Ahly’s 21-20 lead was being threatened by Al Najma’s strike force. However, Al Najma’s continuous attacks from the centre made Al Ahly’s defence to stand strong and extend their lead to 22-20.
Al Najma managed to score their last goal with 20 seconds remaining but it was not enough to give them the win.
Al Ahly will face the winners of the second semi-final tomorrow between Barbar and Al Shabab.
Barbar, who recently won the Handball Federation Cup, will look to qualify for the final and dominate Bahrain’s handball scene.
The match will take place at 7pm at the Bahrain Handball Association hall in Um Al Hassam.