Khor Shock Al Arabi

Al Khor survived a tense last 15 minutes to hand Al Arabi a 2-1 loss on Saturday and consign the Dream Team to their third consecutive defeat.  Khor’s Brazilian striker Madson scored on either side of the break to help his side claim a shock win over favourites Al Arabi.

The match started on an even note with both teams trying to find their footing. However it was Arabi who had their first attempt of the tie when Ahmed Fathi had a shot at goal in the 15^th minute. Khor registered their first effort on the 19^th minute Hilal Mohamed had his shot deflected off the cross bar.

Khor took control of the match when they scored in the 34^th minute through Madson. This goal seemed to wake up Arabi, who went on the attack towards the end of the first half but couldn’t convert their chances. Khor went into the break with a 1-0 lead.



The start of the second half saw both teams exchange possession and create chances. However  a moment of magic saw Khor double their advantage. The move started with Marcos Antonio lobbing the ball long for Madson. The diminutive Brazilian ran ahead with the ball, wrong-footed Arabi captain Khoukhi Boualem, before scoring a well-placed goal in the 66^th minute.

Al Arabi reduced the deficit through captain Boualem in the 79^th minute. This goal changed the tone of the match. Arabi went on the attack with Khor reduced to defending resolutely and kicking the ball long. Arabi had chances to find the equalizer but both Mosaab Mahmoud (86’) and Rod Fanni (93’) wasting clear opportunities for Gianfranco Zola’s side.

The Dream Team are now on a run of three consecutive defeats, losing to teams (Wakrah, Sailiya and now Khor) they would have expected to win. Khor meanwhile have secured three valuable points, which have helped them move further away from the relegation zone.       
 

Lekhwiya maintain winning run. 

Current QSL champions Lekhwiya started 2016 with a 2-1 victory over relegation threatened Qatar Sports Club. A goal in either half ensured that Djamel Belmadi’s side now has seven straight wins in the QSL.

Lekhwiya dominated the early exchanges of the tie, and only took 10 minutes before registering their first effort of the game. South Korean midfielder Nam Tae Hee’s well worked shot just hit wide.  Moments later Qatar Sports Club had their only chance of the first half. Mouchine Iajour intercepted a misplaced Lewis Martin pass, however the final shot was somewhat lacking from the Moroccan international striker.

The Red Knights grabbed their first goal of the match on the 22^nd minute courtesy of a free-kick from Slovakian international Vladimir Weiss. King’s defender Shaheen Ali was to adjudged to have handled from Weiss’s cross, and the midfielder stepped up to hit the ball past a hapless QSC keeper Faisel Ghloom. Lekhiwya continued to dominate possession, having 62% of the ball in the first half with the half-time result 1-0 to Lekhwiya.




In the second half, Lekhwiya continued to dominate possession and it only took seven minutes to double their advantage. Midfielder Luiz Martin scored from a well worked free-kick from 30 yards out. The Qatari international midfielder unleashed a fearsome strike from distance, after Ismaeel Mohammad was bundled down in the final third.

Qatar Sports Club did find a lifeline in the 70^th minute, courtesy of Mouchine Iajour the Moroccan striker pounced on a Lekhwiya defensive error, unleashing his shot into Claude Amine’s right hand corner. The Kings pushed hard for an equalizer and perhaps should of found one if midfielder Fadhl Omar had hit the target with his close range header.

However the current QSL champs held on for their seventh straight win in the league. For relegation threatened QSC head coach Sebastião Lazaroni may look for striking options in the January transfer window, after his side only managed three shots on target in the whole game.