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THE sensational Showstoppers pulled off a last-gasp, title-deciding victory against Olympique De Bahrain (ODB) in the climax to the thrilling seven-aside Bahrain Friendly Winter Football League.
With a series of clinical passing The Showstoppers opened the scoring through Salman Ali. Nizam Abdul added a second goal in the second half and the side appeared to be cruising to victory. However, play was interrupted in dramatic fashion when the lights went out at the Batelco Sports Arena near Hamala after a sudden power failure.
ODB capitalised on this untimely turn of events by slotting home two goals through Jonathon Parrod and Mehdi Aityahoui after play resumed.
The match looked set to go to penalties, until a long range effort from Salman Ali ended in the net in ‘pinball machine’ fashion. The ball first deflected off a defender, then off the goalkeeper, then off the post, before finding itself planted in the bottom right corner of the net.
ODB, in a desperate bid to get a goal back, went on the offensive in the final five minutes. And they almost struck when striker Mohammed Lousfi received a brilliant through ball from Tarek Boulfoul, to go one on one with the Showstoppers goalkeeper, and player-of-the-season Naim.
The shot was hit hard and low, but Naim managed to pull off a brilliant and crucial save, which onlookers described as the save off the tournament, to deny ODB a chance to get back in the game.
The close encounter finished 3-2 allowing the Showstoppers to secure the Bahrain Friendly Football League’s Nonoo Exchange first place prize.
The Ethnic Crafts player of the tournament was judged to be the Showstoppers’ heroic ’keeper Naim. Captain Nizam Abdul, who works for a marketing firm in the oil and gas sector of Bahrain, said: “It was a great game, we were pretty relaxed in the first half, but we came under pressure in the second half. I’m happy we managed to hold out. We have a strong side and we have played really well in this tournament.”
The ODB blamed a host of missed chances and the fact that two of their best players had set off on their Eid vacations.
League organisers Zakir Mir and Nasif Ismail thanked the sponsors for their support.
In the third-place play-off, The Friendly Fanatics came from behind to edge out Arsenal Blue. Ahmed Al Arrayed put the Blues in front in the first half and celebrated the goal with an athletic display of back flips.
However, the Blues celebrations were shortlived. The Fanatics came from behind to score two goals in the last five minutes of the match.
In a tight second half, the Blues continued to pile the pressure on the Fanatics, forcing save after save from goalkeeper Sherwin, and crucial shot-stopping blocks from defenders Zakir Mir, Pim Hoogervost and Dennis.
The Blues thought they had secured the win when striker Tariq Jallaf stole the ball from keeper Sherwin, following a weak back pass. However, the referee disallowed the goal for dangerous play, saying Jallaaf had gone into the challenge on the goalkeeper with his studs up.
The decision sparked an angry reaction from the Blues players and coaching staff, and clearly dampened their spirits.
The Fanatics equalised at last with a long ball from goalkeeper Sherwin finding the head of striker Jorrian Hendriks, who was able to steer it over the Blues keeper.
The match looked set to go to penalties until Dennis Kas was able to send one over the keeper to seal victory in the dying minutes to the dismay of the Blues and the delight of the Fanatics. Goalkeeper Sherwin said: “The win was a classic steal, we may have not been the better team, but we fought hard till the end and managed to get the result. It was our last game in the league, and we really wanted to go out with a bang.”
The Arsenal players felt the result could have been different had some refereeing decisions gone their way.
Other results: 7th place playoff - Arsenal Reds bt Marina FC 3-1; 5th place playoff - University College Bahrain bt Arsenal Yellow 3-0.
Final standings: 1 Showstoppers, 2 Olympique De Bahrain, 3 Friendly Fanatics, 4 Arsenal School Blue, 5 University College Bahrain, 6 Arsenal School Yellow, 7 Arsenal School Red, 8 Marina FC.
