DOHA: South Korean international Nam Tae-Hee scored a hat-trick as Lekhwiya thrashed Al Wakrah 6-2 to claim a third straight QSL victory.

The reigning champions scored three goals in each half at Lekhwiya Stadium to follow up last week’s morale-boosting win over Al Sadd and confirm their return to form.

In the day’s other games yesterday Al Ahli were held to a 2-2 draw by Mesaimeer while Al Khor shared points with Al Kharaitiyat with a similar scorecard.

Djamel Belmadi’s men took the lead inside five minutes when Ismaeel Mohammad slotted home after a pinpoint through-ball from the outstanding Youssef Msakni.

Nam grabbed his first and Lekhwiya’s secondjust eight minutes later.

The Blue Waves failed to bring the ball out of defence and Nam was allowed to turn and shoot past Mohammad Enyas.

Al Wakrah’s only clear-cut chance in the first half fell to Abdurahman Mohammed in the 28th minute.

Lekhwiya found themselves stretched at the back but Mohammed’s right-footed curling effort was well saved by Amine Lecomte.

Just two minutes later though and Wakrah trailed 3-0.

After Enyas tipped Msakni’s effort behind for a corner Lekhwiya scored from the resulting set-piece when Msakni himself headed into an unguarded net.

Enyas was in two minds whether to punch the ball clear but Msakni didn’t hesitate in grabbing his ninth goal of the season.

Lekhwiya continued to look the stronger side after the break but Wakrah got back in the match in the 54th minute when Hussain lashed home.

Belmadi’s men continued to threaten however especially after the introduction of Slovakian winger Vladamir Weiss on the hour mark. Only a trio of saves from Enyas prevented Lekhwiya from extending their lead soon after Weiss’s introduction. The Qatari stopper kept out efforts from Msakni Mohammed Musa and Karim Boudiaf.

Lekhwiya finally grabbed their fourth goal in the 83rd minute when Msakni produced a driving run from his own half. The Tunisian star brushed off a defender in Wakrah’s penalty area before crossing for Nam who slotted home from inside the six-yard box.

Nam then completed his hat-trick just two minutes later with a fine individual goal. He showcased a sublime piece of skill to waltz into the penalty area before producing a fine finish to secure the match ball. The scoring didn’t end there though and Wakrah got a goal back just a minute later when Sebastian Saez smashed home from ten yards. But it was Lekhwiya who had the final say with that man Msakni again involved.

He capped a fine individual display by setting up Khalid Muftah in the 89th minute to complete the scoring.

Also yesterday Mesaimeer exhibited a well-coordinated game to hold Al Ahli 2-2 in their round 11 match in the Qatar Stars League (QSL).

Erivelto Emiliano Silva opened the scoring in the 5th minute for Mesaimeer through a penalty kick. Mulota Kabangu of Al Ahli produced the equaliser in the 34th minute as both sides moved cautiously in the game played at Lekhwiya Stadium. Both sides walked off the Lekhwiya Stadium pitch with the scoreboard showing 1-1.

After a series of engaging sequences Al Ahli went ahead in the hard-fought game when captain Mashael Abdulla produced a goal in the 63rd minute.

However a resilient Mesaimeer did not give up increasing the number attacks in the round 11 clash. Mohammed Zaraali Noori captain of Mesaimeer emerged as a match saviour producing an equaliser in the 71st minute.

Thanks to Noor’s equaliser Mesaimeer have moved a notch above Qatar SC for a day.

Mesaimeer now have 4 points from 11 matches. Seventh-placed Al Ahli now have a tally of 14 points from 11 matches. Yesterday’s draw was Al Ahli’s fifth in 11 clashes in the season so far.

In the day’s third game Brazilian striker Madson Cardade helped Al Khor rescue a point against Al Kharaitiyat with a late goal that saw the match end with a 2-2 score line.

Al Kharaitiyat had opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Anwar Deya.

Naif Mubarak Al Buriki (54) scored the equaliser for Al Khor.

The visitors took the lead once again this time through Domingos Nascimento Santos (56) but the home side found the equaliser for the second time with Madson Formagini Caridade (86) scoring late in the match.

THE PENINSULA