Lekhwiya recorded a hard-fought 2-1 win over Al Sailiya to regain the top position in the Qatar Stars League yesterday. They now have 53 points from 22 matches with four remaining to be played, while Al Sadd have 50 from 21.
Al Sailiya came into the game on a high following their last-gasp 2-1 win over Al Ahli last time out but left empty handed. As for Lekhwiya, they were desperate to make amends for a recent slump after their shock 3-1 defeat to Umm Salal saw them lose the top spot to Al Sadd on goal difference.
After an opening 18 minutes which saw Lekhwiya sit deep in Al Sailiya’s half but create very few chances, the Red Knights finally broke through and took the lead thanks to a goal from Moez Ali.
Lekhwiya attacked down the right wing, where they’d been finding plenty of space, and struck through Moez who capitalized on a low cross and poked the ball home from just six yards out.
The Red Knights were unable to add to their opener though, despite being awarded a penalty in the 35th minute as Al Sailiya’s goalkeeper Gomis produced a fine save low to his right after he guessed which way Lekhwiya’s goal scoring machine, Yousef El Arabi, was going with the shot.
Lekhwiya headed into the tunnel with just a one goal lead that should have been more.
Al Sailiya came out looking like a different team in the second half and had long spells pressed deep into Lekhwiya’s half.
In the 50th minute they were unlucky not to equalise after they had a flurry of shots cleared off the line by Lekhwiya’s stretched defense, with Al Sailiya’s Marius Lazar having back to back shots cleared.
 The tide soon turned in the favour of Lekhwiya though as they stepped up a gear. After 10 minutes of second half play, their captain Mohamed Moosa somehow managed to miss from just two yards out in what may be the miss of the season.
Luckily for him, just minutes later Yousef El Arabi found the back of the net to bag his 22nd goal of the season. just six yards out.
 Al Sailiya tried desperately to get back into the game and got one back on the 83rd minute when halftime substitute Madether hammered one from the edge of the 18 yard box with a fine finish.