DOHA: Lekhwiya’s dismal season start continued after being held to a 0-0 draw against Al Khor in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) yesterday.
Lekhwiya’s start to the new season was described as ‘terrible’ by coach Eric Gerets in the pre-match press conference, and having seen his side drop two more points, will be eager to put an end to this run that has seen the two-time champions win only once this season.
In other results, goals by Thamel Jamal Mohammed (44), Mohammed Razak (45) and a brace by Wanderley Dos Santos (90+4, 90+6) helped Al Arabi crush Al Ahli 4-1 to claim their first win of the season.
Waleed Hamza (28) scored for Al Ahli.
Elsewhere, Al Wakra beat Muaither 3-1, thanks to a double from Anwar Diba (26, 56) and a Michael Sousa strike (65).
Nayef Daoud Al Khater (19) scored Muaither’s only goal.
In the early kick-off match between Al Khor and Lekhwiya, Gerets side was unable to find the breakthrough despite having more possession than their opponents.
Watched by former coach Djamel Belmadi in the stands, who was sacked this time last year following a poor start, last week’s hat-trick hero Adel Ahmed started for Lekhwiya.
But this week Ahmed could not find the back of the net and was replaced by Sebastian Soria on the 60th minute mark.
At the final whistle, Lekhwiya’s captain Madjid Bougherra admits his team-mates need to ‘wake up’ and starting improving.
The captain said: “We need to move and work harder. We need to wake up very quickly and start improving.”
Speaking of his team’s performance, he said: “We attacked, controlled the game and it was difficult and I hope the team wakes up.”THE PENINSULA
