Doha: Experienced midfielder Faouzi Mubarak Aaish smashed a hat-trick while Abdulqadir Iilyas Adam scored a brace as Al Sailiya trounced Qatar SC 5-0 at the Qatar Stars League (QSL) at Qatar SC Stadium yesterday.
It was second huge defeat to Qatar SC who were handed a 9-0 drubbing by leaders Al Rayyan last week.
The Bahraini player scored his first goal in the 12th minute and completed his hat-trick by netting goals in 23rd and 50th minute.
Adam completed the 5-0 score-line by scoring goals in 78th and 86th minute.
In other match of the day, Umm Salal survived Al Wakrah scare to claim a draw at Qatar SC Stadium, thanks to a stoppage time goal by striker Yannick Anister Latte.
Argentine Jorge Sebastian Saez stunned fourth-placed Umm Salal by finding the target in 77th minute before Latte pulled out a draw.
In today’s matches defending champions Lekhwiya will take on rivals Al Sadd while Al Gharafa will meet Al Kharaitiyat.
The other match of the day will see Al Khor and Mesaimeer in action.
Leaders Al Rayyan will be looking to record their tenth consecutive victory when they will take on second-placed El Jaish in a crunch tie at Al Sadd Stadium tomorrow.
Al Rayyan head coach Jorge Fossati said: “We know we have a very tough game against Jaish. We respect them a lot but just like the other teams we have faced this season. We have the same confidence if not more. With each match, my players are showing that we can trust in them 100 per cent.”
Al Rayyan coach expected a tough battle from El Jaish who are also yet to lose a match.
“Jaish are a very good team and we respect them but as always we have big confidence in our potential,” he said.
“This is a competition between many clubs and all of them want to win the title. Rayyan is currently the leader of the competition and we can imagine that not only the fans of El Jaish but other teams also want us to lose. But I think that even if fans of all the teams are put on one side, they will still not be able to be stronger than our fans. We are one big family - the fans, the management and especially the players,” he added.
“There are many people who are not necessarily supporters of Rayyan but are happy with the performance of Rayyan and what this club has contributed to the league this season.”
“My point of view is very simple. The football pitch has two posts. You must attack one and defend the other. The team that controls both these aspects in the best possible way will get the victory or get close to it. So I am constantly looking for a combination that can give the best balance for the team.”
El Jaish head coach Sabri Lamouchi said his team will be targeting full points against Al Rayyan.
“We will play the best team in the league this season. They have a perfect record so far. All teams have tried to stop them and have failed. We will look to take three points from this game which is our target against Rayyan or any other team,” he said.
“This year many teams are playing with three defenders - Mesaimeer, Al Arabi and even Rayyan. But we have to play our style of football and show our personality. We know Rayyan are the best team in Qatar and it will be very difficult for us,” he added.
Meanwhile, Qatar Stars League Director of Competitions Department Ahmed Al Adsani held a meeting with club officials from both Al Rayyan and El Jaish at QSL headquarters yesterday morning as the match is expected to draw a big crowd.
The meeting also included Director of Events Hassan Al Kuwari and Community Relations officer Hamad Al Dosari.
The meeting took place in order to ensure that the big clash of the season between Rayyan in first position and El Jaish in second would go smoothly considering the large turnout which is expected.
THE PENINSULA
