Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Four goals in the second half saw Lekhwiya hand Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr a 4-0 thrashing and haul the 2014/15 Qatar Stars League champions back into contention for a place in the knockout phase of the 2016 AFC Champions on Tuesday.
The result means the two clubs are level on five points after four games, three points adrift of leaders Zobahan, who defeated Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor in the day’s other game in Group B.
Nam Tae-hee, Alain Dioko, Chico Flores and Mohammed Muntari all netted after a first half in which Lekhwiya twice hit the woodwork as Djamal Belmadi’s team was unable to find a way onto the scoreboard despite dominating.
“We achieved an important victory and we wanted to get the three points from the match,” said Belmadi. “The performance our team showed tonight and the win revived our chances of progress in the competition and the next match will be vital for us.
“We were not rushing for the victory. We were the better side and converted the chances we created into four goals. The players put in a lot of effort and their desire to win was clear and I want to thank them for the performance they had tonight.”
With 11 minutes on the clock, Dioko sent his side-foot effort over the bar when the goal was at his mercy while Ahmed Maqsoud tried his luck from long range in the 23rd minute for Lekhwiya.
Four minutes later Ibrahim Ghaleb would have put Al Nassr in front against the run of play had he shown more composure just three yards from goal following Mohamad Hasan’s downward header.
Dioko was released into the penalty area 11 minutes before the interval as the Qataris hit on the break and the striker heeled the ball into Nam’s path, only for the Korea Republic international to see his attempt come back off the post before bouncing to safety.
Eight minutes later the Qataris were shaking the woodwork again as Dioko looked set to capitalize on Al Nassr’s failure to clear a corner, but the ball thumped against the crossbar.
Lekhwiya continued to hold the upper hand in the second half and, within four minutes of the restart, the home side finally claimed the goal their dominance deserved when Nam curled his free kick from the left towards the top corner, and Al Nassr captain Hussain Abdulghani was unable to keep the ball from crossing the line.
By the 70th minute Lekhwiya were further in front and this time it was Dioko finding the target after Ismail Mohammad broke forward before feeding the Congolese striker, who stepped inside to slot a right foot shot into the corner.
Youssef Msakni became the third Lekhwiya player to hit the woodwork as time ran down and, with five minutes remaining, Flores scored from six yards out after Mohammed Tresor’s low centre.
And substitute Muntari completed the rout three minutes from time – and just moments after coming on for Dioko – when he rounded Abdullah Al Enazi to score from close range.
“We suffered a big and unexpected defeat and I personally believe that we played with two different performances in each half,” said Al Nassr coach Raul Caneda. “We put in a good performance in the first half, which was scoreless.
“In the second period, there were some surprising changes which Lekhwiya took advantage. They capitalised on our errors and scored four goals. We still have a chance to advance from the group and everything is still to play for until the last match.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports