Al Sadd’s defender Ibrahin Majed heads the ball clear during the Qatar Stars League match against Umm Salal in Doha yesterday. Al Sadd won the match 2-0. PICTURE BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT
DOHA: Al Sadd yesterday crushed Umm Salal 2-0 to stay unbeaten in the Qatar Stars League (QSL).
In another tense clash, Al Rayyan also kept their slate clean with a hard-fought 3-1 win over defending champions Lekhwiya.
It was the second successive loss for Lekhwiya who were guilty of two own goals.
Raul opened the scoring in the 25th minute and then later in the second half, the Spaniard orchestrated a neat move to help Hassan Al Haydos score the second in the 87th minute.
Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata curled in a corner which was deflected into the net by a Lekhwiya player in just the second minute of the match.
Lekhwiya’s Sebastian Soria (49) produced an equaliser from close range but Lekhwiya conceded another own goal in the 50th minute.
Al Rayyan’s Hamid Ismail (90+3) scored the third goal late in the match with Lekhwiya’s goalkeeper Baba Malick out of his position.
Former Real Madrid striker Raul produced a well-time snap-header off a corner kick - jumping high in the air - to deflect the ball into the net in the 25th minute.
It was the 35-year-old Spaniard’s third goal of the season. Raul fired two goals in the match against Qatar SC on September 23.
Watched by Qatar national coach Paulo Autuori, Al Sadd dominated play against Umm Salal who looked short on quality up front.
Khalfan Ibrahim was benched in the 74th minute by coach Hussain Amute.
Al Haydos in the 87th minute provided a calm finish to a one-two pass from Raul inside the Umm Salal box.
Also yesterday, Al Khor played a 2-2 draw against Qatar SC.
Madgid Mousa (16) and Mohammed Razzaq (19) scored for Qatar SC while Mohammed Juma (47) and Hassan Fataah (90+5) helped Al Khor manage a draw.
After yesterday’s draw, Qatar SC are still without a win in three games. Qatar lost to Al Rayyan and Al Sadd in the earlier two matches.
Al Khor beat Al Kharaitiyat on September 15 before playing a draw against Al Arabi last week.
Today, former champions Al Gharafa host Al Arabi in a clash that involves teams without a win in the QSL.
Coached by Paulo Silas, Al Gharafa went down to Al Wakra in the first round before being held to a goalless draw against Al Kharaitiyat.
On the contrary, Al Arabi lost to Al Sadd in the first round before playing a 1-1 draw against Al Khor.
Al Arabi, coached by Pierre Lechantre, have struggled for depth in the two games they have played so far. The match takes place at Al Gharafa Stadium.
Also today, newcomers Eljaish play Al Sailiyah in round three of QSL.
Coached by Razvan Lucescu, Eljaish last week stunned QSL champions Lekhwiya in a tense clash at Al Gharafa Stadium.
The clash today takes place at Qatar Sports Club Stadium. In another clash, unbeaten Al Wakra host Al Kharaitiyat.
Coached by Memmed Bazdarevic, Al Wakra are in prime form, winning both of their clashes so far.
THE PENINSULA
