AL MUHARRAQ, Bahrain (Interstat) — Visiting Sitra delivered an upset victory on Sunday, defeating Al Ahli 2-1 in a Bahrain Premier League match at Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Stadium. The result defied pregame projections and handed Al Ahli a losing start to their domestic campaign.

The match, played on Dec. 28, 2025, saw Sitra seize control with two first-half goals before weathering a sustained challenge from the hosts after the break. The victory immediately boosted Sitra’s league record to one win and no losses, while Al Ahli began their season with one loss and no wins. The records across all competitions for both clubs mirrored their opening-day league results.

Sitra’s opener came in the 19th minute through forward Yassine Chamakhi, who finished a left-footed shot to give the visitors an early advantage. The lead was doubled just 15 minutes later when Karl Namnganda found the net with a right-footed effort in the 34th minute, sending Sitra into halftime with a commanding 2-0 lead.

Al Ahli emerged from the interval with renewed purpose and managed to halve the deficit in the 53rd minute. Sayed Mahdi Sharaf provided the response for the home side, scoring with a left-footed shot to ignite hopes of a comeback. Despite intense pressure and possession in the attacking third for much of the second half, Al Ahli could not find an equalizer against a disciplined Sitra defense.

The final score stood as a reversal of the outcome predicted by statistical models. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-1 win for Al Ahli, and the organization’s ELO rating system gave the home side a 54.3 percent probability of victory prior to kickoff. Sitra’s performance, particularly their efficient first-half finishing and resilient second-half defending, rendered those forecasts inaccurate.

The match was organized under the auspices of the Bahrain Premier League. With the win, Sitra secured three valuable points on the road to open the season. Al Ahli, meanwhile, is left to regroup after a home defeat where their second-half rally ultimately fell short.