Source: Arab Times

Pinocho (ARG) 3-4 City US Tirgu (ROM)
FC Erdre (FRA) 2-3 Muharraq (BAH)

Muharraq FC of Bahrain edged France's FC Erdre 3-2 to lead the group B pack into the next round of the competition.

Brazilian international Roberto Garcia opened scoring for Ergdre to take the lead in the second minute and seven minutes later in the ninth minute, Ighor Galvao equalized for Muharraq. Six minutes later, the 27 year old Brazilian struck in another goal, this time firing the ball past the Erdre keeper from an indirect kick awarded to the Bahraini side. The score line stood at 2-1 in favor of Muharraq at halftime.

The tit- for-tat attacks and counter attacks continued on both sides with the French side fighting tooth and nail, piling pressure thus compelling Muharraq to deploy all players in defense. The incessant pressure resulted in a defense lapse which Karim Bentaifour exploited to knock in Erdre's second goal to equalize for the French side in the 34th minute. The game which both sides saw as a must- win, was degenerating into a messy kicking contest in the final stretch as the sides deadlocked at 2-2 were desperately looking for the win.

With just six seconds left on the clock, a Muharraq player got tripped on the ball and a penalty was awarded against the French side which 27 year old Mohammed Abdul Rahman neatly converted to close the game 3-2 for the Bahrainis who now top the group with six points and goal difference four. The crowd was ecstatic and exploded into jubilation at the Bahrain win. There were in all five yellow cards and a red flashed out, three yellows to the Erdre side, two yellows and a red for Muharraq.

Meanwhile, City 'Us Tirgu Mures of Romania narrowly won their match against Pinocho of Argentina 4-3. Matei Christian scored a hat-trick with Lupu Robert adding the final goal to hand the Romanian champions the 4-3 lead at close, their second win in three outings. But despite the win against Pinocho, the latter still has a single goal difference advantage over the former, as both currently stand at par with 6 points apiece, having won two matches each.

In all three matches, Pinocho scored eight goals while conceding seven which leaves them with a net one goal difference and six points in two wins. City on the other hand, garnered eleven goals while conceding eleven to leave them with a net goal difference of zero with six points after two wins in three outings. Muharraq and Pinocho therefore advance to the next round of the tournament's knockout stages where the fixtures become clear after the remaining two groups are sorted out in the next two days.





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