MUHARRAQ, Bahrain (Interstat) — Al Riffa SC overcame an early deficit and a late scare to beat home side Sitra CSC 3-2 at Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium, using a three-goal stretch from the 41st through the 59th minute to take command of a match that remained open until the final whistle. The visiting side trailed after conceding in the 15th minute but responded before halftime and then scored twice early in the second half to build a cushion. Sitra CSC, the home team, remained within reach throughout and pulled back a goal late, but Al Riffa SC did enough to close out the result.

Sitra CSC struck first in the 15th minute when Salem M. scored, giving the home team a 1-0 lead. The early goal put Al Riffa SC on the back foot, but the visitors steadied and found an equalizer four minutes before halftime. M. Abduljabbar scored in the 41st minute, sending the teams into the break level at 1-1. The goal was Abduljabbar’s first of the match and began Al Riffa SC’s run of three unanswered goals, changing the momentum after Sitra CSC had started brightly.

Al Riffa SC carried that momentum into the second half. Tayeb Meziani scored in the 57th minute to put the visitors ahead, and Rodrigo Yuri scored in the 59th minute to make it 3-1. The quick two-goal burst changed the shape of the match and left Sitra CSC needing a response. M. Abduljabbar, Meziani and Rodrigo Yuri were key performers for Al Riffa SC, each finishing with a goal. Their contributions helped the visitors turn a one-goal deficit into a two-goal advantage before the final half-hour.

Sitra CSC did not fold. Bekaye Wade, one of the home side’s key performers, scored in the 89th minute to cut the deficit to 3-2 and set up a tense finish. Sitra CSC pushed for an equalizer in the closing moments, but Al Riffa SC held on to secure the win. The result moved Al Riffa SC to 2 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw in this competition, and to 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw across all competitions. Sitra CSC fell to 1 win and 2 losses in this competition and to 1 win and 2 losses across all competitions.

The match reflected the teams’ recent form. Al Riffa SC’s previous results this season included a 4-0 home win over East Riffa, a 3-0 loss at Al Nasr and a 1-1 draw at Malkia. Sitra CSC previously beat Aali Club 2-0 and lost to Al Najma Club 2-0. The home side’s two goals came from Salem M. and Wade, while Al Riffa SC’s three goals came from Abduljabbar, Meziani and Rodrigo Yuri. The game featured five total goals and was decided by Al Riffa SC’s burst on either side of halftime.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Al Riffa SC 2, Sitra CSC 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Al Riffa SC with a 57.3 percent probability to win. Al Riffa SC had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.75. The total score of 5 went under the over/under line of 2.5.