Lekhwiya’s Nam Tae-Hee (second right) scored a hattrick in his team’s 6-2 win over Wakrah yesterday.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
South Korean international Nam Tae-Hee scored a hat-trick as Lekhwiya thrashed Al Wakrah 6-2 to claim a third straight QSL victory.
The reigning champions scored three goals in each half at Lekhwiya Stadium to follow up last week’s morale-boosting win over Al Sadd and confirm their return to form.
Djamel Belmadi’s men took the lead inside five minutes when Ismaeel Mohammad slotted home after a pinpoint through-ball from the outstanding Youssef Msakni.
Nam grabbed his first, and Lekhwiya’s second, just eight minutes later. The Blue Waves failed to bring the ball out of defence and Nam was allowed to turn and shoot past Mohammad Enyas.
Wakrah’s only clear-cut chance in the first half fell to Abdurahman Mohammed in the 28th minute. Lekhwiya found themselves stretched at the back but Mohammed’s right-footed, curling effort was well saved by Amine Lecomte.
Just two minutes later though and Wakrah trailed 3-0. After Enyas tipped Msakni’s effort behind for a corner, Lekhwiya scored from the resulting set-piece when Msakni himself headed into an unguarded net. Enyas was in two minds whether to punch the ball clear but Msakni didn’t hesitate in grabbing his ninth goal of the season.
Lekhwiya continued to look the stronger side after the break but Wakrah got back in the match in the 54th minute when Hussain lashed home.
Belmadi’s men continued to threaten however, especially after the introduction of Slovakian winger Vladamir Weiss on the hour mark. Only a trio of saves from Enyas prevented Lekhwiya from extending their lead soon after Weiss’s introduction. The Qatari stopper kept out efforts from Msakni, Mohammed Musa and Karim Boudiaf.
Lekhwiya finally grabbed their fourth goal in the 83rd minute when Msakni produced a driving run from his own half. The Tunisian star brushed off a defender in Wakrah’s penalty area before crossing for Nam, who slotted home from inside the six-yard box.
Nam then completed his hat-trick just two minutes later with a fine individual goal. He showcased a sublime piece of skill to waltz into the penalty area before producing a fine finish to secure the match ball.
The scoring didn’t end there though and Wakrah got a goal back just a minute later when Sebastian Saez smashed home from ten yards. But it was Lekhwiya who had the final say, with that man Msakni again involved. He capped a fine individual display by setting up Khalid Muftah in the 89th minute to complete the scoring.
Madson earns point for Khor
Brazilian striker Madson Cardade helped Al Khor rescue a point against Al Kharaitiyat with a late goal that saw the match end with a 2-2 score line.
Kharaitiyat had opened the scoring in the 18th minute through a freak goal. Anwar Deya curled in a corner kick and it evaded everyone, including a leaping Baba Kane, and found the back of the net.
The match being played at the Al Khor stadium was an open affair with both teams looking to attack and the first half saw some end-to end action. Khor enjoyed a larger share of the possession, especially in the Kharaitiyat half, with Madson being a busy bee on the right flank. But he couldn’t conjure up a goal.
Towards the end of the action, Khor got a great chance for the equaliser when Kharaitiyat defender Domingos nudged Julio Cesar inside the box and a penalty was awarded. Cesar stepped up to take it but Kharaitiyat keeper Ahmed Sufyan was able to save the weak, side-footed shot.
The second half followed a similar script as the first with both teams looking to attack. And then two goals were scored in two minutes and in both cases the goalkeepers were to blame. First, in the 54th minute, it was Sufyan who spilled a Madson freekick and Naif al Breiki slammed the ball into the roof of the net for the equalizer.
Just two minutes, it was the turn of Baba Kane to return the favour. The Khor keeper jumped up to collect the ball from a corner kick but it bounced out of his hand, onto the head of Yahia Kebe and then into the path of Domingos who didn’t make a mistake.
Kharaitiyat had the lead again and then settled back and looked to defend their advantage. A move that they ended up regretting later. Khor, being given the space, were mounting attack after attack. Madson, like in the first half, was again his industrious self. He provide a great cross for Helal Ibrahim in the 64th minute but the shot was horrible. The very next minute the Brazilian provided another cross, this time from a corner kick but Lee Yong headed high. Two minute later it was the turn of Cesar to put waste to a Madson cross when he missed from six yards out.
While Khor were building more and more attacks, Kharaitiyat were being pushed further back into their half. The Knights had another chance in the 70th minute but this time a Marcos Miranda shot was cleared off the line by Mohammed al-Abdulla.
The equaliser finally came in the 87th minute. Substitute Lassina Diaby turned provider for Madson and the Brazilian happily slammed it into the goal. Kharaitiyat coach Amar Osim was seen flinging a bottle of water in frustration.
In the next minute, Yong was given his marching after receiving his second yellow for bringing down Kebe. But the Knights were able to hold on till the end of the match, including the four minutes of added time, to walk away with one point from the match.
