The second round of QSL action kicks off today evening with three matches. In the early match Al Khor take on Al Sailiya at Al Khor stadium. Both sides lost their opening tie of the QSL season, and will be looking to get their first three points.
Khor will be looking to push home advantage, especially after narrowly losing 2-1 to Umm Salal in the opening game of the season. As for the visitors Al Sailiya, they narrowly lost 1-0 to Al Arabi in their opening fixture of the 2016/2017 season. Sami Trabelsi’s side will consider themselves unlucky not to have at least grabbed a point from the tie, and will be eager to make amends against Khor.
At the same time at Al Arabi stadium, the two promoted sides Al Shahaniya and Muaither will play each other in what will be an early test of their QSL credentials. Both sides had heavy defeats against QSL title contenders Al Rayyan and Lekhiwya respectively.
Shahaniya fell to a 3-0 opening day defeat to reigning QSL champions Al Rayyan. Head coach Fathi Al Jabal will now have to lift the spirits of his side, who did play relatively well in the opening exchanges of the clash. The Oryx’s will be without Spanish defender Álvaro Mejía who picked up a red card last time out.
Muaither went down to Lekhwiya with a comprehensive 4-0 score line. The falcons will be expecting better things against Al Shahania, a team they pipped to the Qatar Gas League title last season. The falcons will be hoping that last season’s top scorer in the Qatar Gas League Mahmoud Za’tara can register his first goals in the QSL this term.
In the late match at Al Arabi stadium, Al Arabi will take on El Jaish in the QSL match of the week. The Dream Team will be boosted with Senegalese defender Moustapha Sall and Nigerian attacker Imoh Ezekiel, who are set for their league debuts. Imoh Ezekiel revealed his excitement in returning for Al Arabi in an exclusive interview for QSL online earlier in the week.
As for the visitors, El Jaish squeezed past Al Wakrah with an opening day 2-1 victory. Sabri Lamouchi’s side where made to sweat out the final fifteen minutes after conceding a late goal. Jaish will be hoping summer signing Sediou Keita will be able to dictate play in the center of the park, just like the former Malian international did in his two previous games for the side. Now to see how the action unfolds on the pitch today.


Boosted by new signings, Arabi take on Jaish
Al Arabi go head to head against El Jaish at the Al Arabi stadium today. Both teams got off to a winning start in their opening games at it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in a highly anticipated match.
Al Arabi won their first game against Al Sailiya even though they were missing key players. However, they will be stronger as their foreign professionals will be able to play the match against El Jaish.
Arabi coach, Gerardo Pelusso, is confident in his team’s preparation ahead of the game, “The preparations were very good this week and all the players are ready.”
“El Jaish are one of the best teams in the league and they have very good stability. We also have great history and some good player such as Ezekiel, Moustafa Sall and Paulinho amongst others who will give their best to add to this history,” added the Uruguayan tactician at the pre-match press conference.
Speaking about his foreign and local players Pelusso said, “We have a team of stars because we want to bring the local and foreign players in the same level. As a coach I think all the players are important.”
El Jaish have a tough schedule ahead as they are in the semi-finals of the AFC champions league against UAE’s Al Ain. The Soldiers won their opening encounter against Al Wakrah and will be keen to continue their rich vein of form.
Sabri Lamouchi, head coach of El Jaish had this to say about his opponents, “Our second game is against an important club in Qatar. They have a good coach and good players they won their first game as well. We are ready to play this game and get the maximum points.”
“It will be difficult to manage both AFC Champions League and QSL. I trust in my players as they have good focus. And the best way to train for Tuesdays semi-final is with a good performance tomorrow against Al Arabi,” added the Frenchman.