Playing to a script authored by coach Joreg Fossati, Qatar Stars League (QSL) points leaders Al Rayyan on Monday resumed their normal service with their 12th win of the season while title hopefuls Lekhwiya closed the gap on El Jaish with an easy victory.
 
Al Rayyan, who were shocked by Al Sadd at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in a round 13 clash last Thursday, on Monday hammered Al Ahli 3-1 to surge ahead in the title race.
 
Also on Monday, defending champions Lekhwiya ensured there was no slip-up against bottom-placed Mesaimeer, posting their fifth successive win to sit behind second-placed El Jaish (26 points) who beat Al Sadd on Monday.
 
Coached by Djamel Belmadi, Lekhwiya defeated Mesaimeer 2-0 at the Grand Hamad Stadium. Lekhwiya now have a tally of 25 points from 13 matches.
 
While Lekhwiya enjoyed their fifth successive win, the Lions resumed normal service at Al Gharafa Stadium by beating Al Ahli with relative ease.
 
If Al Ahli thought that that defeat would have any impact on Al Rayyan players, then they were mistaken.
 
Al Rayyan got the early goal through their skipper Rodrigo Tabata and didn’t look back from there.
 
In the 22nd minute, Myongin Koh lobbed a clever ball into the box and Tabata swiftly beat the offside trap for his side's first goal. The Brazilian striker then slotted it past the Al Ahli 'keeper Amer Dosari to give his team the lead.
 
The second goal came right at the end of the first half and it was a text book one at that.
 
Mohammed Alalawi crossed from the left flank and experienced striker Sebastian Soria calmly headed the ball home as Al Rayyan went into the beak with a comfortable two-goal cushion.



 

In the second half, points leaders Al Rayyan took just about the same time as in the first half to find the net.
 
Twenty four minutes into the second half, Soria ran down the right flank and delivered a long cross. Alalawi, lurking around threateningly, received the ball and quickly ran behind the Al Ahli defence to score his team’s third goal.
 
Al Ahli were able to get a consolation goal through skipper Meshal Abdullah in the 72nd minute but there was no denying Al Rayyan.
 
Monday's loss means that Al Ahli have now gone for six matches without a win. They have lost three and shared points with as many draws.
 
For a team that finished fifth in the points race last season, Al Ahli are currently languishing in ninth place, providing coach Zlatko Kranjcar plenty of headaches.
 
Al Rayyan now have a tally of 36 points from 13 games.
 
As Al Rayyan celebrated their return to winning form, Lekhwiya on Monday prevailed with a clinical show of dominating football at Grand Hamad Stadium.
 
Goals from Vladimir Weiss and Youssef Msakni in the first half ensured a comfortable win over Mesaimeer who can't seem the shake off the relegation fears.
 
The Red Knights had come into this match on the back of a dominant 4-0 thrashing of Al Ahli and Mesaimeer were not expected to post a huge challenge.
 
During the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Mesaimeer coach Rodion Gacanin sought to prevent Lekhwiya from scoring for as long as possible.
 
But while Lekhiwya couldn’t find a breakthrough till late in the first half, they were constantly mounted attacks in cool playing conditions.




 

Lekhwiya scored in the 37th minute through a slick team effort. Ismail Mahmoud passed to Weiss at the edge of the box and the Slovakian played a great 1-2 with Mohamed Muntari and scored the opening goal of the match.
 
The second goal of the match followed just eight minutes later.
 
Karim Boudiaf crossed the ball into the box and Msakni ran in through the defence and put the ball in the back of the net. Mesaimeer players appealed for offside but the Tunisian striker had timed his run to perfection.
 
Lekhwiya ended up with 62 per cent possession in the first half and continued their domination in the second.
 
Round 14 will commence on December 20.
 
Lekhwiya play former champions Al Gharafa on December 22 while Al Rayyan take on Al Sailiya a day earlier.