Lekhwiya put in professional display to defeat Sailiya 3-0. 

Former Qatar Stars League QSL champions Lekhwiya swept past Al Sailiya on Thursday evening, registering an impressive 3-0 win on home soil. A double from striker Yousef El Arabi and captain Karim Boudiaf confirmed all three points for Djamel Belmadi’s side who registered their sixth win of the campaign. 

 

After a slow start, the 9th round clash kicked into top gear when Lekhwiya's El Arabi unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box in the 5th minute but Al Sailiya goalkeeper Gregory Gomis pouched on the ball.

 

Lekhwiya slowly found their stride in the tie and Red Knights skipper Boudiaf hoodwinked his marker and then fired a shot that was blocked by Sailiya defender Dragos Grigore resulting in a corner kick for the former QSL champions.

 

From the resulting corner kick, Lekhwiya's Spanish defender Chico Flores produced a snap-header which sailed above the goalkeeper's head before hitting the crossbar in the 18th minute.

 

On the thirty sixth minute  Boudiaf produced a neat lob shot from the edge of the box for his side's first goal. The ball sailed above goalkeeper Gomis' head and crashed into the right hand side of the net as Lekhwiya players - coached by Djamel Belmadi - celebrated the goal in emphatic fashion.

 

In the last minute before the first-half whistle, the ever lively El Arabi slipped in a neat ball for Korean attacker Nam-Tae Hee but Al Sailiya’s Cameroonian import Raoul Loe put in a timely dive to thwart the danger.

 

After a lack lustre start to the first half, Lekhwiya sprung into life and doubed their lead on the 56th minute. Lekhwiya striker  Yusef El  Arabi surprised a pack of three Sailiya defenders by firing a curling shot into the back of the net. Marked by Paul Efoulou, Mubark Eid and Dragos Grigore near the Al Sailiya box, El Arabi paused for a fraction of a second before producing a swinging shot to score a memorable goal for his side. 

 

Eight minutes later, Al Sailiya nearly scored but for Khalid Muftah’s quick clearance near the goal-line.  Efoulou chipped in a ball for Rajab stationed near the Lekhwiya's goal-line. Thankfully for Lekhiwiya Muftah quickly moved in and cleared the ball before Rajab could get close to taking a shot with Lekhwiya goalkeeper Claude Amine embarrassingly out of position.

 

In the 68th minute, Lekhwiya skipper Boudiaf went for a long-range missile towards the Al Sailiyah goal but 'keeper Gomis produced an acrobatic save, tipping the ball over the crossbar with an airborne right-handed flick.

 

In the 79th minute, El Arabi doubled his tally for the game and assured Lekhwiya all three points, pouncing on a Ali Afif shot that hit the post stroking the ball into the back of the net much to the delight of head coach Djamel Belmadi.