ISA TOWN, Bahrain (Interstat) — Al Riffa SC and Al Najma Club played to a 2-2 draw at Khalifa Sports City Stadium, with all four goals arriving by the 66th minute and a red card in stoppage time closing out the match. Al Riffa was the home team and Al Najma was the visiting team. The match Friday began with a rapid exchange of goals and ended with the sides level after Al Najma recovered from an early two-goal deficit.

Machado W. put Al Riffa ahead in the 9th minute and scored again in the 11th minute, giving the home side a 2-0 lead. Al Najma responded in the 13th minute when Jaco scored. Jaco played the full 90 minutes for Al Najma and recorded one goal. The early burst produced three goals in five minutes, and Al Riffa carried a 2-1 advantage into the second half.

Al Najma equalized in the 66th minute when Sales J. scored, pulling the visitors level at 2-2. Al Riffa pressed for a third goal after the equalizer but could not convert. Al Najma finished the match with 10 players after Rickson was shown a red card in the 90+1st minute. The sending-off came late in stoppage time, after Al Najma had already secured the draw.

The result left Al Riffa with a competition record of 2 wins, 0 losses and 2 draws. Al Riffa’s season record across all competitions is now 3 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws. Al Najma’s competition record is now 1 win, 1 loss and 2 draws. Al Najma’s season record across all competitions is also 1 win, 1 loss and 2 draws. Both teams took a share of the points after a match that featured four goals, one red card and no further scoring after the 66th minute.

Al Najma had entered the match with recent results that included a 2-1 home loss to Aali Club, a 2-2 home draw with Al Hidd SCC and a 2-0 road win at Sitra CSC. Al Riffa’s recent form included a 4-1 home win over Qatar SC, a 3-2 road win at Sitra CSC, a 4-0 home win over East Riffa, a 3-0 road loss at Al Nasr and a 1-1 road draw at Malkia. The teams traded momentum during the first half, with Al Riffa’s quick start answered by Al Najma’s goal from Jaco. The second half settled into a tighter contest until Sales J. found the equalizer. Rickson’s late red card added a final complication for Al Najma, which held on for the draw.

Al Riffa’s Machado W. was central to the home side’s early lead, scoring in the 9th and 11th minutes. Al Najma’s response came quickly through Jaco, and the visitors stayed within reach until Sales J. leveled the match. The game produced four goals in total, matching the final scoreline of 2-2. Al Riffa remained unbeaten in the competition, while Al Najma added a second draw to its competition record. The match was played at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town. Al Najma finished with two goals, and Al Riffa finished with two. Neither side scored after the 66th minute, and the late red card did not change the final result. Al Riffa’s advantage came from Machado W.’s two goals, while Al Najma’s comeback was built on goals from Jaco and Sales J. The draw was the second in competition play for Al Najma.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Al Riffa SC 2, Al Najma Club 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Al Riffa with a 91.9 percent probability to win. Al Riffa had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 3.5.