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Red Knights win 2-0 to emerge on top a second successive time; Claim bragging rights ahead of QSL season
Ikoli Victor
DOHA
Lekhwiya claimed the Sheikh Jassim Cup for a second successive season and with it the bragging rights in the season's curtain-raiser with a 2-0 victory over Al Rayyan on Monday.
The goals were scored by the new Moroccan recruit Yousef El Alarabi and second half substitute Ismail Mohamad at the Al Sadd Stadium. The match saw a low turnout of fans, perhaps due to the Eid al Adha celebrations.
The winning trophy was presented to the Lekhwiya captain by Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani.
Sheikh Jassim Cup usually features the Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions and Emir Cup winners at the beginning of a new season.
Rayyan started brightly as Rodrigo Tabata almost caught Amine Lecomete off-guard when his curling strike from the edge of the box went wide in the second minute of the action.
Lekhwiya channeled majority of their attacks down the left flank, where two Moroccan internationals were stationed, Msakni and El Alarabi. It was no surprise that Msakni stood out in the opening minutes with his perfect run dribbles. Alarabi meanwhile, announced his arrival in the country with a decent finish from close range to give the Red Knights the lead in the sixth minute.
The 29-year-old joined the Emir Cup champions from Spanish La Liga side Granada at the end of last season.
Sebastian Soria's perfect run into the opponents' box almost yielded dividends when his fine strike was thwarted by Lecomte for Rayyan's fourth corner kick in the eighth minute a testament of their early dominance and possession football.
Lekhwiya pressed for a second goal with Yousef Msakni's goal-bound effort stopped by the rushing Saoud al Hajri. The Moroccan international was menacing from the left flank as his dribbles and runs caused serious worries for Jorge Fossati's men.
In the second half, Rayyan pushed men forward and played purposefully. Musa Haroon clipped the ball high over Lecomte's post for the Lions' first real chance in the 58th minute.
Abdulkareem al Ali was introduced to add bite to the Rayyan attack after defender Daniel Gomou gave way in the 65th minute. But it was Lekhwiya's Muntari's half volley from Boudiaf's cross that was the talking point after Alarabi's goal.
Lekhwiya coach Djamel Belmadi was not comfortable with his team's slender lead and brought in two forward players in Ismail Mohammed and Al Moaz Abdalla for Muntari and Msakni in the last fifteen minutes of play.
Ahmed Alaaeldin was the last joker in Fossati's option as he introduced the winger in the last ten minutes.
In added time, Lekhwiya exacted their domination with a second goal from Ismail after a rebound strike from a free-kick rolled to his path to tap in.
