Jaish remain top thanks to Mendes screamer

QSL league leaders El Jaish edged out Al Ahli 1-0 in a close-fought match at Al Ahli stadium. The match ended 1-0 in favour of the Soldiers thanks to a wonderfully struck free kick from defender Lucas Mendes. The two teams played a mostly even match but were only separated by the solitary goal struck late in the second half.

The first half saw a defensive and cautious approach by both sides with very few shots on target. El Jaish looked like they were going to score when Al Ahli’s keeper, Amer Al Dossary’s miss kick was intercepted by Yasser Essa who then passed to Sardor Rashidov on the left who’s shot was blocked by a sliding Sayed Adnan to keep the score at 0-0.

In the second half, Al Ahli upped the pressure on Jaish as they kept attacking the El Jaish goal. They also had a penalty claim Meshal Abdulla was brought down in the box after Ndombe Mubele made a back pass to him to cap off a brilliant counter-attacking display by the Brigadiers.

In the eighty-sixth minute, Lucas Mendes scored his first goal of the season with an unstoppable free kick. El Jaish won the free kick just outside the box when Al Ahli’s defender Fred Dabanka fouled Mohammad Mothnani. The Brazilian defender, Mendes than scored a spectacular goal as his left-footed free kick found its way into the far corner of the goal leaving Al Ahli keeper, Amer Al Dossary clutching at thin air.

The hard-fought three points means that Sabri Lamouchi’s side remain top of the table while Al Ahli are eighth in the table with nine points from nine games. El Jaish have still yet to have tasted defeat this term and Sabri Lamouchi will be delighted with his side’s fighting spirit even when players like Romarinho and Rashidov are misfiring.