Red Wolves Roar Back into Title Contention

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Defending champions Muharraq produced a clinical display at Khalifa Sports City yesterday, thrashing Sitra 4-0 to climb to 2nd place in the Nasser Bin Hamad Premier League, just one point behind leaders Al Khaldiya. The Red Wolves were coming off a 1-0 defeat to Al Khaldiya, but Nandinho’s side controlled the game from start to finish. Sitra, coached by Isa Al Saadoun, were thoroughly outplayed and remain in eighth.

The scoring blitz started almost immediately, with Waleed Al Hayyam opening the account in the first minute. What looked like a routine corner clearance fell perfectly to Gervásio Olivera, whose side-footed delivery sent the ball high into the box, where Al Hayyam met it with a composed volley into the corner. Keeper Youssef Habib could do little as the ball floated delicately from range, and the defender finished like a seasoned striker.

Nandinho's men then doubled their advantage in the 16th minute through Brazilian Juninho. A throw-in found Argentinian Facundo Tobares at the edge of the box, and although Sitra defenders thought they had cleared it, the ball fell kindly to Juninho in space. The striker made no mistake, unleashing an emphatic volley that underlined his reputation as Muharraq’s reliable finisher.

Al Saadoun's were put further on the back foot just before halftime when Tobares turned provider into scorer. In the 39th minute, Arthur Rezende lofted a ball behind Sitra’s high defensive line, exposing their desperate search for a goal. Tobares controlled it expertly under pressure, rounded Habib, and slotted the ball into an empty net, making it 3-0 and leaving Sitra shell-shocked.

The fourth goal came in the 68th minute through Abdoulkarim Diara, capping a brilliant team move. Diara initiated the attack on the wing before linking with Rezende outside the box. Continuing his run into the danger area, Diara sidestepped a challenge from Sitra substitute Carlos Fernandez, and calmly finished to complete the 4-0 rout.

With this victory, Muharraq climb to 2nd place on 23 points, just one behind Al Khaldiya, while Sitra remain in 8th with 11 points. Their dominance in attack and at the back made it clear that the Wolves remain firm title contenders.