Brazilian pro Romarinho scored a scintillating hat-trick as El Jaish beat Umm Salal 4-2 at Lekhwiya stadium in the Qatar Stars League yesterday. Sabri Lamouchi’s side thus ended The Orange Fortress’s unbeaten run and took their own tally to five without defeat in the season.
After a balanced opening 10 minutes, El Jaish began dominating possession and the first clear cut chance of the game came on the 17th minute when danger man Romarinho found himself on the end of a lovely chipped pass into the 18 yard box. The former Corinthians player was unable to find the target and his volleyed shot went well wide of the post.
 Umm Salal, who were without their commanding goalkeeper Baba Malick and big number 13 Yannick Sagbo, began to play on the counter and after 23 minutes, the in-form Tha’er Bawab found himself with the ball at his feet just eight yards from goal after Hilal Mohammed cleverly dummied a low driving cross. Despite Bawab managing to control the cross, he was unable to get a shot off before Jaish defender Murah Naji made a fine block.
 With 30 minutes gone, El Jaish managed to break the deadlock and take the lead. Umm Salal’s Ismail Mahmoud brought down El Jaish’s Mohamed al-Yazidi on the edge of the 18 yard box and gifted The Soldiers a free kick in a dangerous area. Dead-ball specialist Romarinho, stepped up to take the free kick and his looping right foot strike smashed into the crossbar. The rebound fell kindly for El Jaish’s Captain Seydou Keita, who managed to stab home his own rebound on the 31st minute after also hitting the bar with his first attempt.
 The first half finished one nil to El Jaish but the score soon doubled after the referee blew for the second half and after a mere 30 seconds. El Jaish made it 2-0 as Keita made it a goal and an assist with a lovely cut back to Romarinho who found himself in acres of space, calmly finishing from 12 yards out.
Things went from bad to worse for the Orange Fortress and just two minutes later, Mohamed al-Yazidi was brought down again in the area for a penalty. Romarinho stepped up and converted from the spot to make it 3-0 with a powerful strike that left the goalkeeper with no chance.
 To add to what was already a dismal second half for Umm Salal, Romarinho sealed his hat-trick on the 61st minute after the Brazilian found himself on the end of a pin point cross from Murah Naji, leaping above two defenders to head a powerful header home and all but see off the tie.
 Umm Salal had a late rally after an 86th minute penalty from Ismail Mahmoud made it 4-1, and an 89th minute goal from on-loan SC Braga midfielder, Alef Santos, made it 4-2.
After five matches, Lekhwiya and El Jaish have 13 points but Lekhwiya are top on goal difference.