Lekhwiya made to work by Qatar Sports Club but come away with all three points

Published on: 21 September 2018
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Lekhwiya started their title defence against Qatar Sports Club at the Abdullah bin Khalifa stadium tonight. The Red Knights had substitute Vladimir Weiss to thank as he scored the vital second goal late on to help his side secure the victory.

The first half saw Lekhwiya dominate early on with Razaq causing problems for the Kings defence.  The forward came close on a number of occasions and almost scored with an acrobatic overhead kick.

Qatar Sports Club had lost their first match and knew that they would have to improve significantly if they were to get anything from tonight’s fixture against last season’s Qatar Stars League Champions.

The first goal came on the half hour mark and was against the run of play when a lucky deflection found its way to Mohammed Omar who drilled a low shot into the bottom left corner from just outside the area.

Lekhwiya didn’t take long to respond when just ten minutes later they were awarded a freekick; Nam Tae-Hee took it early, sending it to wingback Khalid Muftah who was fouled on the very edge of the box. Msakni stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way and calmly slotted the ball into the top left corner.

The first half ended level but Qatar were riding their luck and would have to have more purpose to the play if they were to get anything out of the game.

The second half however saw a barrage of attempts by Lekhwiya as they pinned in the Kings with their attacking play.

Qatar were therefore forced to play on the counter attack and new signing Mouhcine Iajour came closest on the 65th minute when he latched onto a through ball and with only the keeper to beat, he failed to find the net. Lekhwiya keeper Claude Amin made a decisive save as the next goal was sure to seal it for either side.

Iajour again had a big chance, this time in the 76h minute, Qatar SC went on another counter attack as Lekhwiya left themselves exposed at the back and again the Moroccan striker was wasteful. The miss would prove costly for the Kings as just 5 minutes later Lekhwiya went onto score the crucial goal of the match.

Lekhwiya winger Ismael played a clever one-two down the right with Kareem Boudiaf and sent in a great cross which the unmarked Weiss took full advantage of with a classy well placed volley (81’).

After the goal Qatar’s spirits were broken and they were reduced to defending in their final third as Lekhwiya finally got into their groove.

Msakni put the game beyond doubt when he went on a fantastic solo effort across the face of goal from the left. The forward went past four defenders before send the ball back across the face of goal for Lekhwiya’s third and best goal of the night.

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