Sports Reporter/Doha


For 40 minutes, Al Markhiya goalkeeper Jassim al-Hail stood like a rock, bringing off about half a dozen saves. Then the floodgates opened.
Former Qatar international Hamid Ismail scored a brace while Rodrigo Tabata, Marko Devic and Ahmed Alaeddine struck a goal each as Al Rayyan thrashed Al Markhiya 5-0 in the opening match of the Emir Cup yesterday.
Al Rayyan, who have bounced back into the Qatar Stars League by winning the second division Qatargas League, were largely untroubled at the Al Arabi Stadium as they made their intentions clear with a clinical victory that held much promise with the bigger matches to come.
The Lions had found a stubborn obstacle in Jassim who produced some fine dives to prevent several dangerous forays into the Markhiya defence from materialising into goals, but sooner or later he was to run out of energy, and also luck.
And sure enough the Al Markhiya defence fell in the 41st minute, thanks to a spectacular bicycle kick by Ismail after Tabata had gently headed the ball for him.
Three minutes later Ismail doubled the lead after profiting from a cross by Argentine midfielder Lucho Gonzalez and slotting the ball into the far post after goalkeeper Jassim just managed to get a hand on it.
Al Rayyan could have scored their third goal in the very next minute but Tabata’s header off an Ismail pass hit the post.
Al Markhiya had a couple of chances in the early part of the second half but goalkeeper Omar Barry was equal to the task.
Al Rayyan consolidated further through Serbian born Ukrainian midfielder Marko Devic, who headed in a Lucho cross in the 51st minute.
Tabata then punished Al Markhiya for a defensive lapse when he intercepted a weak pass and scored on his own from close in the 77th minute.
The issue was put beyond doubt when Alaeddine struck Al Rayyan’s fifth goal in the 71st minute after receiving a pass from Nathan Otavio.
Al Rayyan coach Manuel Jimenez was thrilled by his team’s win.
“Al Rayyan belong in the top league,” he said. “It was blip that they had to spend a season in the second division and as the Emir Cup progresses it will be very much obvious to everybody,” the former Spanish international added.
He said captain Tabata had led the team well.
“Rodrigo is very involved and is passionate about the game and about Al Rayyan. The way he goes about his business is very professional.
In the scond  match of the day, Mesaimeer defeated Muathir 2-1