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Venezuelan Jesus Manuel Meza scored two goals and assisted in one as former champions Al Arabi thrashed second-division Markhiya 6-0 in a Group A match of the Sheikh Jassim Cup at Al Ahli Stadium on Wednesday. |
Al Arabi, who are eager to leave a mediocre last season behind them and are trying to rebuild the team under German coach Uli Stielike, were intent on an early breakthrough and Anad Saleh almost got it in the third minute when he connected a cross to force a fine one-handed save from the Markhiya goal keeper.
The goalkeeper’s heroics counted for little though as Thamali Jamal opened the scoring through a penalty when Saleh was brought down in the box. Jamal made no mistake with his left foot as he drove the penalty low and to the diving keeper’s left for the first goal of the match for Arabi in the 30th minute.
After a lackluster first-half, Arabi made a fast and furious start in the second half and stamped their authority on the match. But they had to wait until the 50th minute before the new signing Meza, who came off the bench just after the break, got a second and third before helping Brazilian Wanderley Santos score the team’s fourth goal with a header.
For his first goal Meza released Farid with a through-ball and the latter latched on to the pass and placed it past the Markhiya goalkeeper. Meza made it 3-0 with a stunning strike in the 55th minute.
The Venezuelan finished with a brilliant shot from around 25 yards as the ball sailed over the stranded goalkeeper before settling in the net.
Meza and Alnas then combined well to help Aziz Hatim score the fifth with a perfectly timed header in the 85th minute.
A nice combination move between Abdulaziz Hatem and captain Saleh inside the Markhiya box saw Arabi adding one more to the tally.
Hatem finished the move after Saleh set him up on the goalmouth with a short pass bringing an end to the scoring process in the 88th minute.
With their second victory in as many matches, the Reds are the only unbeaten side in the group. They will now meet Al Gharafa in their last group encounter while Markhiya must now lift themselves for their remaining match against Rayyan on June 28.
In the other match of the group Rayyan defeated Gharafa 5-0.