Msakni scores hat-trick in Duhail’s easy win 

Doha: Captain Youssef Msakni scored a fine hat-trick as Al Duhail SC warmed up nicely for next week's heavyweight clash against Al Gharafa and the even more important Champions League opener against Iran's Zob Ahan on February 12 with a cruising 4-0 victory against Al Ahli on Friday.

Youssef El Arabi was also on target for Duhail who extended their lead at the top to four points.

Duhail have 39 points from 15 games while Rayyan, who beat Al Markhiya, have 35. Al Sadd with 34 points, will take on Qatar SC on Saturday.

Duhail went back to their four-man defence – where the full backs Ali Afif and Murad Naji operated more as wingers – after playing with three central defenders in the recent weeks, but there was no change in their attacking style or intent.

Thier supremely talented attacking trio of Msakni, El Arabi and Nam Tae Hee are a handful to the best in the QSL and Ahli were naturally playing second fiddle right from the start and it took just 20 minutes for Djamel Belmadi's men to open their account.

Ismael Mohammed, who played at a much higher position than he has taken up this season, controlled a ball just outside the area and Msakni finished it off with a beautifully-struck right-footer.

Duhail were 2-0 up in the 23rd minute after Msakni met a flat corner from Murad Neji with a thumping header. Duhail seemed to have taken their foot off the pedal for a while but they increased the lead in the 36th with a goal that looked ridiculously easy.

Lucas Mendes' measured long ball beat Ahli's offside trap, leaving Msakni with plenty of space and just the goalkeeper to beat. The Duhail captain instead chose to pass to his top striker El Arabi who slotted the ball into an empty net and took his tally to 20.

Msakni completed his hat-trick with a low shot from outside the area in the 78th.

As Belmadi withdrew, Nam Msakni and Luis Martin, Ahli especially Yasin Chikhaoui had chances to score, but Lecomte was in fine form under the bar.