Al Arabi's Brazilian striker Dutra (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring a hat-trick against Lekhwiya in the Qatar Stars League yesterday. Picture: Noushad Thekkayil

Doha: Al Arabi, thanks to a hat-trick from Dutra, scored an upset 3-2 win over defending champions Lekhwiya in the Qatar Stars League yesterday.
The defeat dropped Lekhwiya out of top four in the table, and are in fifth spot with 9 points. It was their first defeat in four matches but they have played one game less than other teams in the competition. For Al Arabi, the win gave took them to third place, with 12 points from 5 matches, three less than leaders Al Rayyan and a point less than second-placed Al Sadd. El Jaish are in fourth position with 11 points.
At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Lekhwiya were on the backfoot straightaway with Brazil striker Dutra opening Arabi's account in the second minute. But Lekhwiya not just found the equaliser but took the lead before the half-time.
In the 37th minute, Youssef Msakni found the net and three minutes later Vladimir Weiss gave Gianfranco Zola's managed side the lead.
But Dutra had other plans in the second half. The 27-year-old scored int he 60th and 66th minute as the match turned on its head.
Lekhwiya's problems were further confounded when Karim Boudiaf was sent off for a straightaway red card.  In the second-half, both teams played dirty as seven yellow cards were dished out, other than Boudiaf's red.