Ten-Man Muharraq Stun Sitra

Hat-Trick Hero Juninho Inspires Red Wolves to Cup Final

Muharraq overcame a rollercoaster of a match to come out 5-3 winners over Sitra at Khalifa Sports City yesterday, booking their spot in the Khalid Bin Hamad Cup final against Riffa on Saturday. 

The game started with Sitra on the front foot, probing Muharraq’s defence and creating early pressure, but the Red Wolves struck first in the 15th minute. Soufiane Mahrouk met a clever delivery from Facundo Tobares, and headed low into the corner, giving ten-man Muharraq an early lead.

Minutes later, their momentum slipped way after a VAR review awarded Sitra a penalty. Muharraq’s Amine Bennadi was shown a second yellow for clipping Karl Namnganda’s heel as he rose to meet a cross, and Juda da Silva converted emphatically from the spot to level the score at 1-1.

Despite being a man down, Muharraq regained the lead in the 38th minute. Edimar Ribeiro da Costa expertly controlled a Rezende delivery under pressure and finished to make it 2-1. However, Ali Abdulmajeed’s men were undeterred. They equalized in first-half stoppage time through Abdulwasea Al Matari, who finished beautifully to the far post, sending the teams at halftime at 2-2.

The second half belonged to Ribeiro da Costa. He restored Muharraq’s advantage in the 54th minute, volleying in from a corner delivered by Gervasio Oliveira. Four minutes later, he completed his hat-trick, again set up by Oliveira, who delivered a dead-ball free kick from the left wing. Ribeiro da Costa beat Carlos Cavafe to the ball, and his powerful strike bounced off the crossbar and over the line.

Sitra earned a late penalty in the 75th minute after Abdulwasea Al Matari’s effort struck Waleed Al Hayyam’s arm. Juda da Silva’s second penalty cut the deficit to 4-3, giving his side a fleeting chance to fight back. That hope, however, vanished in stoppage time as Arthur Rezende’s low floated ball found Facundo Tobares, who volleyed emphatically to make it 5-3 and send Nandinho's men to the final.