MANAMA: AFC Cup Finalists Al Muharraq of Bahrain sacked coach Carlos Elinho on Sunday.

Elinho led Muharraq to the Final of the AFC Cup this year but they lost 3-0 to defending champions Al Faisaly of Jordan in the first leg at the Amman International Stadium on Friday.

The second leg will be held at the Bahrain National Stadium in Manama on Friday where Al Muharraq have a mountain to climb if they are to entertain any hopes of winning the title.

“The substitutions I made in Jordan didn't work despite the fact that it has been done before and worked wonders for the team,” said Elinho in his last press conference.

Elinho sent in Reyadh Bader, Faouzi Aaish and Abdulla Al Dakeel in the place of Rasheed Al Doseri (53'), Sadeq Jaafar (54') and Leandson Dias Da Silva (67'). The three substitutes completely threw the match strategy into disarray and Al Faisaly benefited by scoring three goals in the second half.

Meanwhile, the club management announced that technical consultant Khalifa Al Zayani would be taking over Elinho's duties.

Al Zayani is a well known coach in Bahrain and has done stints Al Muharraq before, with the latest one coming last year when he led them to the Bahraini League title.

Al Zayani exhorted the players to be in a positive frame of mind for the second leg. "I have asked the players to be at their best during the training as for me the Final (of AFC Cup) has just started,” said Al Zayani.