‘Red Devils’ in no mood to spare Bahrain

But all said and done, the Latin Americans is the best team on display in the Sahara Cup. It was their Latino style crisp short passes and free-flowing attacks which warmed the hearts of the crowds on a chilly evening. And a win against Bahrain the favourite whipping side on Monday, would ensure the Chileans a quarter-final place.

The Chileans, with their three-pronged attack system, can prove quite handful for a depleted Bahrain defence. Tapia, who scored the match-winner against Japan, operates from the centre, of the three-man upfront. The pony-tailed striker, who represents Perugia in the Italian League, gets a fair amount of support from Francisco Arrue on the left and Fernando Martel on the right to exploit the rival defence. Besides they have an ever enterprising mid-field which feeds them with those mouth-watering through passes.

Even the Bahrain’s German coach agrees on Chile’s firepower. ‘‘Chile is a professional side with Olympians and World Cuppers in their rank. It will be a tough match for us,’’ said Wolfgang Sidka on Sunday. The tall and well-built former Bundesliga mid-fielder hinted at packing his defence so as to ensure his team doesn’t concede ‘‘more goals.’’

He added: ‘‘Against the Uzbeks Bahrain’s defence failed to fall back soon after the attacks hence we conceded atleast two goals in the counter-moves.’’ About his team’s dismal start, the Bahrain coach said that his was a young side and they were in a re-building process. Bahrain’s senior players were playing in the Arabian League. ‘‘The team has a full-time coach but no full-time players,’’ Sidka put it sarcastically.

With limited resources at his arsenal, the German coach has a tough job at hand: to stop the marauding Chileans. But, Acosta’s ‘Red Devils’ are in no mood to spare Bahrain.