Brazilian Muriqui netted the first hat-trick of this season’s Qatar Stars League yesterday.

By Anil John/Doha


Mesaimeer made their Qatar Stars League debut last evening. It was a forgettable outing as far as the result was concerned, but an enriching one in terms of experience. Perspective, in this case, is everything.
An unkind draw meant they had to face 13-times champions Al Sadd in their opening match. Even more daunting for the new boys was the fact that Al Sadd were led by new captain Xavier Hernandez Creus, aka Xavi, who was also making his first appearance in the Qatari top flight.
As it turned out Xavi’s Al Sadd proved too hot for the minnows as Brazilian Muriqui (Luiz Guilherme Silva) bagged a hat-trick. Mesaimeer were outclassed 4-0 in a match Al Sadd dominated from the off. It was a no-frills performance by a team that goes by two nicknames – The Boss and The Wolves. If Mesaimeer appeared intimidated, that was how it was meant to be.
All eyes, of course, were on Xavi, and the Barcelona and Spain legend didn’t disappoint – marshalling the team with great skill and composure and keeping the forwards busy with a steady stream of passes and the occasional delicate chip.
A free-kick he took resulted in Al Sadd’s first goal. It was a powerful drive from 25 yards out that just appeared to dip just fractionally for the Korean Jung Soo Lee to time his header perfectly past Mesaimeer goalkeeper Basel Zaidan.
Al Sadd took 12 minutes to get on the scoreboard but that was understandable. It was their first match of the new season and the heat and humidity were killing with teams taking regular water breaks during the match. A few moments earlier, the ever-dependable Hassan al-Haydos had seen his fine chip from a difficult angle hit the post.
Muriqui, who made his name by powering Guangzhou Evergrande to their first AFC Champions League title in 2013, had a great chance to consolidate in the 23rd minute after a Xavi pass found him inside the area, but the Brazilian delayed his shot and was dispossessed.
But as the match progressed it was getting evident that Muriqui was going to be Al Sadd’s go-to man as far as goal-scoring was concerned. And sure enough it turned out that way.
In the 39th minute, al-Haydos steamed in from the right to split the defence and all Muruiqui had to do was to stretch his leg to send the ball bundling into the net.
Just after half-time Xavi was in the thick of the action, but a free-kick taken from just outside the penalty area sailed over the post.
Al Sadd scored their third goal in the 77th minute thanks to the spadework done by winger Nadir Belhadj, who with a little luck could have seen the goal registered in his name.
Belhadj, one of Al Sadd’s mainstays for several seasons, worked the ball upfront from the left and unleashed a blinder that struck the crosspiece and appeared to drop on the line before Muriqui finished off the rebound. Replays later showed the ball had dropped just behind the line.
Qatar and Al Sadd talisman Khalfan Ibrahim was only introduced late in the match, but Muriqui was not finished as he poached his third goal three minutes from time to complete a 4-0 rout for his team and register the first hat-trick this season in the Qatar Stars League.
In the second match of the day, El Jaish and Al Ahli played out a 1-1 draw.