NABLUS: Ahli Al-Khaleel lost 1:2 to Merkaz Balata, relegated to the Ihtiraf al-Jizi’i, the Palestinian second division.
The Hebronites will join hands with Taraji Wad Al-Nes in the second division. The drama was intense in the 21st matchday of the West Bank Premier League as Shabab Al-Samu, Thagafi Tulkarem and Ahli Al-Khaleel all could have been relegated and played at the same time.
Thagafi, Ahli’s direct opponent in the survival battle, managed to beat Tubas, 2:5 away from home. While Al-Samu seemed to be the one to go down with a draw against Hilal Al-Quds at home, Balata scored against Al-Ahli in the 82nd minute. The latter equalized in the 91st minute, but four minutes later, deep in the stoppage time, Balata added another goal, won 2:1 and sent Al-Ahli to the second division.
The Greatest Fall in Palestinian Football
Only a few years ago, the red club from Hebron was the rising star of Palestinian football. After they signed Italian coach, Stefano Cusin, in 2014/15, winning three West Bank Cups and two Palestine Cups in a row, impressing in the 2016 AFC Cup group stage and signing the best Palestinian talents in the market, the Red Devils faced a severe downgrade in the last couple of years.
Al-Ahli were always the smaller club in Hebron in fan base manners and impact compared to popular Shabab Al-Khaleel, yet, in the past decade, the Reds produced some historical moments in Palestinian football history. First club to win the Palestine Cup after long 15 years; First Palestinian club to hold a training camp in Europe (Italy) and South America (Chile).
Despite several attempts to save the club from its own decline, Al-Ahli relegated and returned to the second division after ten years.
