(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Defending champions Lekhwiya continued their brilliant start to the new season yesterday when they edged out El Jaish 1-0 in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) derby on home soil at the Lekhwiya Stadium, thanks to a Luis Martin's goal and some fine goal-keeping display.
The captain struck the all-important goal in the 84th minute that gave coach Michael Laudrup's team their fourth successive win of the season.
But the Brazilian-born was not the only star of the match as Laudrup's 90th minute substitution goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodriguesdos Santos stole limelight by saving penalty, just a minute before the final whistle to help Lekhwiya continue their winning run.
However, El Jaish, the last season's runner-up team made the champions a run for their money with a good display both in attack and in defence.
But Lekhwiya's goalkeeper Lecoumet Kloud Amin - who guarded goal for 90 minutes - stood firm and made perfect saves to deny El Jaish any goal. The army's had their best shot in the 75th minute, but Lee Keun try for a certain goal was blocked by Amin clinically.
Earlier, Lekhwiya could have scored in the 50th minute but Vladmir Weiss wasted an easy opportunity, missing the target.
The first half also saw an exchange of attacks from both the sides.
El Jaish also came close to score in the 30th minute but goalie Amin blocked a brilliant header by Romario Ricardo.
After the win, the Laudrup's side sits on top of the table with 12 points from four wins in as many matches.
Meanwhile, Al Arabi yesterday registered a commanding victory when they rout Al Shamal 4-0 victory over Al Shamal with Pablo Hernandez firing a brace in the final session.
Hernandez showed his class scoring goals in 70 and 86 minutes to help his side in recording a resounding victory.
Boualem Khoukhi (24), Imoh Ezekiel (43) were the other scorers.
The other match of the day between saw Al Sailiya scoring one goal each in both sessions to defeat Al Khor 2-0. Fawzi Ayeshs scored goal in the second minute penalty while Issam Jomaa was the other scorer with a goal in 65th minute.
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