Bahla win to stay on top, Al Nahda beat Saham

Muscat, Sept 26
The third round of the Jindal Football League for the 2025–2026 season kicked off with three matches that opened the football scene. Bahla managed to strengthen their grip on the top spot with a perfect record after defeating Al Rustaq, while Al Nahda snatched three valuable points from Saham to boost their place in the table and the match between Sur and Samail ended in a goalless draw that reflected the balance between the two teams.
At the Al Rustaq Sports Complex, Bahla proved their merit by continuing their winning run with a narrow 1–0 win over hosts Al Rustaq. The winning goal came from their foreign player, Luka, in the 25th minute. The match began with early drama when Al Rustaq missed a penalty in the 12th minute through Hamza Magdy, who struck too softly into the goalkeeper’s hands. Just minutes later, Bahla capitalised and scored the only goal of the match, going into half-time ahead.
In the second half, Al Rustaq pressed hard for an equaliser with continuous attacks, but Bahla’s defensive solidity and the fine form of their goalkeeper denied them. The match ended in victory for the visitors. With this win, Bahla raised their tally to 9 points from three matches, staying on top with a perfect record, while Al Rustaq remain pointless at the bottom of the table.
AL NAHDA EDGE SAHAM
Al Nahda claimed an important 1–0 win over Saham at the Buraimi Sports Complex, with the decisive strike coming in the 70th minute from Azzan al Tamimi.
The first half saw a balanced game, with both sides exchanging attempts that failed to find the net. It ended goalless. Al Nahda intensified their pressure after the break and wasted several clear chances, most notably Lokombe’s one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Their persistence paid off when Amjad al Harthy delivered a precise pass, coolly converted by Al Tamimi with a deft touch.
Saham attempted to fight back and even found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Their Nigerian striker, Atikur Owen, nearly equalised with a powerful header, only for goalkeeper Ibrahim al Mukhaini to pull off a superb save.
This win lifted Al Nahda to 7 points, putting them firmly in the competition, while Saham stayed on just one point.
TACTICAL STALEMATE
The Sur-Samail clash at the Sur Sports Complex ended goalless in a match characterised by tactical discipline.
The first half featured scattered chances, with Samail’s Mohamed al Battashi testing the defence and Sur’s Sameh al Hosni firing over the crossbar. Both sides relied on short passes and midfield build-ups, leading to a quiet 0–0 half-time score.
The second half saw a slight rise in tempo. Samail’s Osama al Zaabi came close, but Sur’s defence stood firm. Substitute Radwan al Siyabi nearly handed Samail the lead with a fierce strike, while Sur’s substitute Saud Khamis wasted a golden chance in the 84th minute, only for goalkeeper Khadher al Balushi to rescue his side.
The match ended in a tactical 0–0 draw, raising Samail’s tally to 2 points in eighth place, while Sur collected their first point, sitting in 12th.