Kalu Uche demands world cup shirt from Keshi

IKOLI VICTOR Doha Nigerian striker Kalu Uche scored twice as resurgent Al Rayyan thrashed Qatar Sports Club 3-0 at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday. It was Rayyan's best performance in recent time, as they have now hauled 25 points and are undefeated in six-league match. For Qatar Sports Club, it was five games without a victory. Elsewhere, runaway leaders Lekhwiya defeated Al Ahli 3-1 to open a seven-point gap at the top of the Qatar Stars League on Saturday. The impressive Slovakian Vladim\'edr Weiss opened the scoring in the 15th minute and four minutes later Sebastian Soria made it 2-0. Ali Hassan scored the third, 10 minutes before the interval. League's top scorer Dioko Kaluyutika added to his goal tally as he reduced the deficit in the 66th minute - his 19th goal of the season. Rayyan, recovering from a 2-3 loss against Al Jazira in the AFC Champions League last week, signalled their intention to collect maximum points right from the start. They dominated the early exchanges but lacked the cutting0 edge in front of the goal. However Tahir Zakariya scored with a header in the 25th minute following a corner kick. The ball hit the woodwork off the cross and the rebound was headed home by the diving defender. Adriano Martins had a glorious chance to level score for his team but an on-rushing Oumar Barry denied the Brazilian. The striker turned Zakariya inside out and then tried to fire a shot from a close range. Barry was quite sharp and his reflex action thwarted Martins in the 33rf minute. Kalu scored his first of the two goals in the 50th minute with an acrobatic kick. His first touch beat goalkeeper Sami Subait and created enough space for him to excecute a brilliant overhead kick. The striker completed the rout with a stunning strike from about 25 yards that beat Sami in the 66th minute with hands down. The former El Jaish striker has now scored six goals in four appearances since joining Manolo Jimenez side. He has 10 goals between the two clubs. New signing Yakubu Aiyegbeni saw him in action for eight minutes. On Sunday, Umm Salal will engage Al Gharafa as both sides try to move up the ladder. Second from bottom in the QSL Al Khor will host Al Wakrah. Al Khor, with 21 points from 21 matches, need maximum points to salvage their season if they are to avoid relegation.

•