FAIR RESULT

THE 3-3 scoreline in the marquee fixture between Lekhwiya and Al Sadd last Sunday was a fair result, but the game did not live up to the expected level as the teams looked far from their best.

The fortnight-long break, owing to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, seemed to have affected the national team players from both clubs as they looked tired and struggled to get even their basics right.

And Lekhwiya’s South Korean playmaker Nam Tae-Hee seemed to be making the difference yet again when he swirled home a free-kick in the 77th to give the cops a 3-2 lead. But defence let them down, allowing Algerian forward Baghdad Bounedjgah to tap in a Hamad Ismail cross in the 83rd.

Baghdad had put Sadd ahead in the 18th while goals from Yousef El Arabi and Yousef Msakni gave Lekhwiya a 2-1 lead by half-time. Ibrahim Majed won a penalty and Hassan Al Haidous converted the resultant kick to draw parity in the 70th.

Lekhwiya coach Djamel Belmadi was disappointed with his team’s poor defensive display as they have conceded seven goals in the last two matches.

“It’s an important statistic that we must study. We’re a team that always plays to attack and this gives the competitors an opportunity to play counter-attack. We’ve to continue our offensive play, but by finding a defensive balance,” said Belmadi.

Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira was satisfied with the result.

“Everyone knows Al Sadd contribute a lot of players to the Qatar national team. There were eight boys in the senior side and six in the Olympic team. The extra duty had drained the players of energy. It’s not an excuse as I’m completely satisfied with the performance and result. I salute the players for their work and their ability to come back twice,” said Ferreira.

El Jaish defeated Al Khor 1-0 to climb to the top of the table  with nine points.The Soldiers are the only team with an all-win record.

Michael Laudrup’s debut as Al Rayyan coach began tamely when 10-man Al Sailiya held them 1-1.

Al Wakrah and Al Ahli also settled for a 1-1 result while promoted side Al Shahaniya played out a 2-2 draw with Umm Salal.

Title hopefuls Al Arabi impressed while putting it past Al Kharaitiyat 2-1 while Muaither, the only team yet to open account, suffered a 1-2 defeat against seven-time champions Al Gharafa. DSP