Rayyan’s woes continue; Khor down Gharafa

By Sports Reporter/Doha

Al Rayyan’s woes continue as they went down 2-1 against Al Wakrah during their Qatar Stars League match yesterday.

Coach Manolo Jimenez will have to desperately look around for some flair players that will ignite the club’s disappointing campaign having only managed two wins in the last ten matches, while raking up four losses and four draws.

Rayyan probably had their best start all season when midfielder Abdulla Talib got onto the scoresheets in the fifth minute itself. The team even managed to go one-up into the half-time.

But Wakrah got its act together in the second half, leveling in the 58th minute through striker Sebastian Saez, who made it a double scoring the penalty in the 74th minute.

Al Khor produced an impressive performance to down Al Gharafa 3-0 in their game. William, the Brazilian forward who is on loan from Sao Paulo’s Ponte Preta, opened the scoring in the 41st minute before, Madson Caridade made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute.

Zico’s team was left aghast when Julio Cesar converted a penalty in the 63rd minute.

Al Sadd and Al Ahli played out a goalless draw.

Today, with Razvan Lucescu and El Jaish parting ways earlier this week, Umm Salal coach Bulent Uygun hopes to pile misery on the third-placed team in today’s league match.

Lucescu and Jaish parted ways after the team posted its fifth straight loss in the league, when they lost 1-2 against Lekhwiya on Tuesday.

Uygun is only interested in the resurgence of his own side as they look to climb the table with another victory.

“Our players are in good condition and full of confidence following our win over Muaither. We know the problems El Jaish have had but we’re looking to take a good result from this game and continue our good run of form,” said the Turkish coach.

A spokesman for Jaish said: “The players have a responsibility to start playing better following the decision to change our coaching staff. The management of the club were not happy with the way things were going but now it is time to focus on the future and to recapture the form we showed earlier in the season.”

Meanwhile, Lekhwiya coach Eric Gerets has said that the team has no intentions to take it easy after getting to the top spot in the standings.

“We want to maintain our leadership, there is no question of that. We know this game will be difficult but that’s not going to stop us trying to be consistent and pick up another win,” he said ahead of today’s game against eleventh-placed Al Kharaitiyat.

Al Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi has revealed new Brazilian signing Marcelo Camacho could make his debut against Al Arabi today. The midfielder was signed from Vitoria this week, following a loan spell at Saudi Arabia club Al Shabab.

QSL new boys Muaither, who are placed last in the league, will face eighth-placed Qatar Sports Club today.

Muaither coach Ladislas Lozano said: “The games are all very tight but we have to start showing some good play soon to start picking up some wins. We will never give up though, we will keep going until the end of the season.”