Muharraq hit three past Riffa

TDT | Manama                 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com 

Muharraq stunned defending champions Riffa 3-0 last night in a clash of the titans that kicked off week seven in the 2022/2023 Nasser bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League.

Italian professional Mario Fontanella scored a brace for the victors while Sufyan Marhouq added their other goal.

Riffa were reduced to nine men for the final quarter-hour of the contest after Sayed Redha Isa was given his marching orders for a deliberate handball, while Hamad Shamsan was handed a red card after getting his second yellow for a dangerous challenge.

The result extended Muharraq’s lead atop the league table after seven matches following their fifth win.

Riffa suffered their second loss.

Fontanella opened his team’s account in the 11th minute with a diving header in the face of goal. Mahrouq supplied the assist with a cross from the left wing, and an unmarked Fontanella took advantage of the space to send his effort past Riffa goalkeeper Abdulkarim Al Fardan.

Muharraq then doubled their advantage just minutes later and this time it was Mahrouq getting his name on the score sheet.

Hassan Uqabi sent in a pass with a long free-kick and Mahrouq soared above his marker in the box to head the ball home.

That was enough to give Muharraq the two-goal lead at the half.

They then made it 3-0 in the 70th minute with a Fontanella penalty, with Mahrouq once again involved being the player taken down in the area.

Fontanella stepped forward to take the spot kick, and he fired it straight into the net with Al Fardan guessing to his right.

Riffa’s troubles were then magnified further with the exits of both Isa and Shamsan.

Muharraq improved to 17 points on the league table with their victory, stretching the gap from second-placed Riffa to four points.

In last night’s other league match, East Riffa eked out a 1-0 win over Sitra at a separate venue.

Sami Al Hossaini scored the game’s lone goal in the 51st minute from close range.

East Riffa claimed only their first win of the season with the result, while handing Sitra their second loss.

Both teams are now level on seven points apiece.

League action continues tonight with a packed schedule of four matches.

At 5.30pm, Al Ahli and Al Shabab face off while Manama lock horns with Budaiya; followed at 8.30pm by Al Khaldiya taking on Bahrain Club and Hidd battling with Al Hala.