DOHA: Al Ahli registered their second victory of the season as they comprehensively beat Al Rayyan 4-1 in front of their opponent’s new coach Manolo Jimenez in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) yesterday.
Mishal Abdullah (14), Djoko (35, 42) and Eduardo Dos Santos (90) scored for Al Ahli, while Fahad Khalfan (84) replied for Al Rayyan.
It was a deserved victory for Al Ahli, whose players were more focused than their opponents.
Jimenez, who replaced sacked coach Diego Aguirre last week, saw his side 3-0 down at half-time through well-taken goals from Al Ahli.
Despite a late goal from Khalfan six minutes from time, it was too late for the Emir Cup champions, who later conceded a goal deep into stoppage time.
Statistics showed that Al Ahli had 58 per cent of the ball possession compared to Al Rayyan’s 42.
Elsewhere, in other results yesterday, former champions Lekhwiya came from a goal down to cruise past Al Wakra 4-1, thanks to braces from Youssef Msakni (58, 80) and Sebastian Soria (64, 76). Al Wakra scored through Hussain Yasser (36).
Al Kharaitiyat shared the spoils with Al Arabi in a 1-1 draw.
Al Wakra opened proceedings through Yasser with a well taken goal in the 36th minute. Yasser struck the ball cleanly and took full advantage of the acres of space he had and sent the home crowd wild.
Within one minute, Lekhwiya’s Msakni missed a glorious oportunity to equalise after failing to connect to the ball from six yards out.
The Tunisian attacking midfielder made amends by hitting the equaliser in the 58th minute.
Lekhwiya coach Eric Gerets saw his side take the lead in the match through Uruguayan-born Sebastian Soria.
The Qatari-natuaralised striker hit a powerful header in the 64th minute.
He later later doubled his goal tally with a blistering shot with his left foot into the top left hand corner 12 minutes later.
Msakni made it 4-1 after dispossing goalkeeper Saleh Al Hayyar of the ball in the six yard box. THE PENINSULA
