QSL: El Jaish look for positive boost ahead of ACL semi-final

Doha: El Jaish will be looking for a  full points when they take on  Al Khor at Lekhwiya Stadium, in the third round match of the Qatar Stars League here today evening.
The Soldiers have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the QSL season thus far, but will face a tough test in Al Khor who has recently enjoyed strong results against the traditionally bigger clubs in the league, under the tutelage of veteran French coach Jean Fernandez.
El Jaish, who are in the semifinal of the AFC Champions League will want to win this match against Al Khor and go  into the key continental match on a confident note.
For El Jaish coach Sabri Lamouchi, Al Khor has been a hard nut to crack with the Frenchman looking for his first win against the Al Khor side, but today he wants to change that fact.
“Al Khor is an important game for many reasons and because the last time we played in QSL was three weeks ago and we have to find our rhythm. Also, it is before our big AFC Champions League game. And I as a coach have never won against Al Khor and I would like to change that,” said Lamouchi while speaking on the  eve of the match.
“I am not thinking about the next game, I am only thinking about tomorrow and if I want to win tomorrow I have to put the best team forward,” added the French tactician ahead of the crunch encounter.
“Abderrazak Hamedallah and Khalid Abdulraouf are injured and maybe Seidou Keita can play in this match for us,” added Lamouchi.
El Jaish will be looking to rest some key players ahead of their AFC Champions League semifinal second leg, and this could mean a start for attacker Abdulgadir Ilyas, who was called back from a loan spell with Khor at the beginning of the season.
Al Khor go in to this third round fixture with one loss and one win. The Knights will be hoping to get the three points against a tough opposition.
“I want to congratulate El Jaish for reaching the semi final of the AFC Champions League. My team is ready, we played two friendly games and we are coming to the game with high confidence,” Juan Fernandez, the head coach of Al Khor said.
“El Jaish is playing next week in semi final of Champions League and they are eager to win and our game will give them a push for the next game so it will be tough,” added Fernandez. Speaking about the preparation during the break Fernandez added: “We are ready for the game as we played friendly matches against Al Sailiya and Al Rayyan which prepared us well.”
As for the visitors they registered their first victory of the season last time out against Al Sailiya. A solitary goal from Madson was enough for the Knights, and Fernandez will be hoping his side can continue their winning ways. Indeed the attacking talents of Madson will be needed if Khor are to get anything from the match. The Brazilian striker scored his side’s only goal when the sides last met in the league in January last year. That time, Fernandez set his side up to defend deep and attack on the break, and the French head coach could well do the same this time out.