By Anil John/Doha
It is beyond belief that the defending champions of a country’s most prestigious football tournament had to play in front of a gaping empty stadium when they set out for their first match of the new season.
In most places around the world where the beautiful game is played that would be unlikely, but that was exactly the case yesterday when Lekhwiya took on Qatar Sports Club in their opening fixture of the Qatar Stars League.
Admittedly Lekhwiya are a relatively new team compared to many others in the top flight, but by virtue of having won the QSL title three times in the past four seasons, one expected their fans to flock to the stadium in large numbers especially considering that fact it was their first match after a three-month off-season.
But by staying away they not only showed their apathy – a common trait among local sports fans – but also laid waste to the efforts of the Qatar Football Association who have been untiring in their efforts to drive fans to the stadiums.
Much to Lekhwiya’s credit though, they did not seem to mind as they hammered five goals without past a clueless Qatar Sports Club to give out a resounding warning to their rivals in the tournament.
Under new coach Michael Laudrup, who replaced Belgian Eric Gerets, Lekhwiya showed great intent despite the energy-sapping heat to come away with a clean slate and in the process gain three points.
Almost all of the Lekhwiya top guns helped themselves to goals – the only one who was denied being Luiz Junior whose powerful shot in the 25th minute took a heavy deflection off QSC’s Korean midfielder Kook-Young Han before beating goalkeeper Mohamed Mubarak all ends up. The Korean thus earned the dubious distinction of having scored an own goal.
That goal helped Lekhwiya consolidate their position after a 12th minute header by debutant Chico Flores off a corner had given the holders the lead. Spaniard Flores, who joined Lekhwiya only a couple of weeks ago after two seasons with Swansea City, acquitted himself very well and hardly showed any signs of distress despite the hot and humid conditions.
Lekhwiya led 2-0 at half-time, but that could have been easily more had they not missed a few chances. Sebastian Soria had a great opportunity towards the closing stages of the first session, but having drawn Mubarak out of position, the Uruguay-born striker could only send his shot wide.
However, Lekhwiya didn’t have to wait much longer for their third goal as Korean Nam Tae-Hee, one of the pillars of their success last year, found the net in the 52nd minute.
Mohamed Moosa stormed the penalty area and after rounding off Mubarak slipped the ball to Nam who was left with the easiest of shots.
Yousuf Mskani then made it 4-0 after grabbing a long pass from goalkeeper Amine Lecomte and firing past Mubarak in the 56th minute.
The rout was complete with Soria easily finishing off a Flores pass in the 78th minute as the hapless Mubarak was found wanting again.
Meanwhile, last season’s runners-up El Jaish came from a goal down to edge Al Wakrah 3-2 in a thrilling late match.
After Sebastian Saez had scored off a penalty to put Al Wakrah ahead in the 22nd, El Jaish pulled up their socks to equalize through Mohamed Mathnani in the 28th.
Therafter an own goal by Wakrah’s ahmed Lutfi gave El Jaish the lead in the 53rd minute and Wagner Rebeiro made it 3-1 in the 67th.
Wakrah, however, were not dispirited and struck again through Saez in the 86th minute to go down fighting.
In another late match, Al Gharafa edged Umm Salal 1-0, thanks to a goal from Lisandro Lopez.
