QSL: Eto’o loses first match with Qatar SC

Doha: Former Barcelona player Samuel Eto’o suffered defeat in his first QNB Stars League (QSL) appearance for Qatar Sports Club as The Kings were beaten by Al Sailiya here yesterday.

Both, Qatar SC and Al Sailiya were keen to get back to winning ways having as both had lost thier Round 2 matches.

Qatar SC had strengthened their ranks by signing top striker Eto’o, while Al Sailiya, who lost to Al Gharafa in the last round, too bolstered their squad by roping in Brazilian defender Mauricio Ramos.

For the winners, Al Sailiya, both the goals came in the first half.

In the second half, Qartar SC tried hard but could not break open the Al Sailiya defense.

In the other match, Umm Salal trounced Al Ahli 4-1 to register their first victory of the QSL season.

After losing in the opening round to Al Sailiya and drawing with Al Rayyan in Week 2, Umm Salal collected thier first full points.

Al Ahli were looking to record their second straight win, having beaten Qatar SC in the last round, but Umm Salal nipped the Brigadiers plans in the bud.

At the end of half time play, Umm Salal led 1-0 and added three more goals in the second half to take the game away from Al Ahli.

Meanwhile, Al Arabi will be looking to bounce back from the 10-1 mauling they suffereed at the hands of Al Sadd when they take on Al Kharaitiyat in their QNB Stars League Week 3 match today.

Coach Luka Bonacic said he has told his players to forget the result and he assured that his boys will fight back

“Following our big loss to Al Sadd, our morale was not that down. Normally, any team would have been demoralised. 10-1 is not a normal result. Everyone was responsible for that,” Bonacic said onthe eve of the match.

“But I told my players that Al Sadd is a closed chapter. We had a few days for recovery. If we beat Al Kharaitiyat, then we will have six points. You will see a different Al Arabi in this game,” he added.

“We will fight and we will give our 100 per cent. At the same time, we will be wary of Al Khor as they will be keen to win having lost both matches,” Bonacic said.

“I’m happy, but I am not 100 per cent satisfied with our combination. It is still the beginning. In the past few days, we worked more on the players’ psychological aspects, not physical,” said Bonacic.

Al Kharaitiyat, who have lost both the matches will be keen to open thier account.

Coach Nassif Al Bayawi said they will take a cautious approach against Al Arabi.

“We are coming off two defeats, so we are very careful as we go into the Al Arabi match. Against Al Sadd in the first match, we were very much in the game, but conceded goals in quick succession. That did us in,” Al Bayawi said.

“In the last game against Al Shahania, we were unlucky not to have scored despite creating atleast four clear chances. We committed just one mistake and we lost the match. We had many positives to take from both these matches,” he added,

“I hope we will be lucky against Al Arabi, a big team with rich history, tradition and ardent fans. We are expecting a strong reaction from them, following their big loss to Al Sadd. They will do everything they can to win,” Al Bayawi said.

“We are working hard and victory will come our way sooner rather than later. At the moment, we are not thinking more about winning. Rather, we are thinking how not to lose matches,” he added.

“Midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun, who played for Al Sadd, has joined us and we believe he will be a value addition to our squad,” said Al Bayawi.