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Lekhwiya have all but secured their third Qatar Stars League title after a 2-0 win over Al Rayyan gave them a whopping nine-point lead at the top with just three matches to go. |
Second-placed Al Sadd now face the daunting prospect of winning all their remaining three matches by big margins and at the same time hope Lekhwiya trip up badly, a prospect that looks unlikely given the form the two-time champions are in.
Lekwhiya’s 15th win yesterday gave them 50 points and the joy in their dressing room after the match was more than evident. The mood was celebratory, with coach Eric Gerets beaming from ear to ear after his first year with the team in 2012-13 had ended in disappointment, when Al Sadd captured the title in a sensational sprint on the final stretch.
Yesterday, Korean Nam Tae-hee put Lekhwiya ahead in the 55th minute, crashing the ball into the net after it had rebounded off the crossbar from an earlier attempt by Luiz Jr.
Both teams had created precious few chances, but Lekhwiya made the most of what came their way. There were a few rough moments in the match resulting in several disruptions, and when eight minutes of injury time were added, Al Rayyan must have sensed a chance.
But that was not to be as Lekhwiya struck again in the final few seconds after Al Rayyan lost the ball in the midfield and Vladimir Weiss punished their lapse with a solo effort.
Earlier yesterday, Al Sadd thrashed minnows Muaither 4-1 with Khalfan Ibrahim twice finding the target and Mohamed Kasola and Yousef Ahmed helping themselves to one each. Meanwhile, El Jaish could only draw 1-1 with Al Gharafa. Al Ahli and Al Khor also produced a similar draw.