In the annual match between the league champions and the winners of the Emir of Qatar Cup, it was Lekhwiya who drew first blood after 19 minutes.
Breaking free inside the box, Youssef Msakni advanced on goal before playing a low across the face of goal to leave Ismaeel Mohammad with a simple tap-in at the far post.
Two minutes after halftime, they doubled their advantage as Mohammed Razak latched onto a visionary through-pass by Tresor Abdullah and skipped past the onrushing Saad Al Sheeb, before slotting into the unguarded net.
Al Sadd, last season’s winners of the Sheikh Jassim Cup, did pull one back four minutes later after an incisive pass by Xavi release Meshaal Al Shammari, who made no mistake in sending an emphatic finish past Amine Lecomte.
But in the 61st minute, the Red Knights restored their two-goal cushion as Nam Tae-hee made no mistake in converting from the penalty spot, after Chico Flores had been dragged down inside the area by Ibrahim Majid.
And with two minutes remaining, Lekhwiya went on to seal a convincing triumph as Vladimir Weiss skipped inside Ahmed Al Hardi before firing away a shot that squirmed under Al Sheeb and over the line.
The victory will come as a huge confidence boost for Djamel Belmadi’s charges as they prepare to play in this season’s AFC Champions League as Qatari league champions.
They have been drawn in Group B and will face off against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, Iranian outfit Zob Ahan and either Bunyodkor or Al Shabab.
Meanwhile, Al Sadd are also in the running to play in the Champions League group stage but will have to see off Al Jazira of United Arab Emirates in a playoff on February 9 if they are to join Pakhtakor, Al Hilal and Tractorsazi Tabriz in Group C.
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**Photo: AK BijuRaj*