Substitute Mohammed Salah on Saturday produced a dream performance with two late strikes to give newly promoted Al Markhiya a shock 2-1 win over Al Sadd  in round one of the the QNB Stars League. Wolves captain Xavi struck a superb  first-half free-kick to give his side the lead, however Markhiya showed plenty of fighting spirit, with Salah scoring twice within a space of two minutes late in the second half to give Yusef Adam’s side a statement win to start the season. 

Al Sadd, sporting black jerseys for the away clash, dominated the ball in the opening exchanges minutes but newcomers Al Markhiya remained composed with their defence not allowing any fatal breach of their back-line.

However, In the 12th minute, Al Sadd nearly scored their first goal of the new season when an unmarked Hassan Al Haydoos produced a deft snap-header but the deflection from close range was punched away by Markhiya keeper Fahad Younis. Two minutes later Al Sadd skipper Xavi curled in a well-taken free-kick however defender Pedro Miguel failed to deflect the ball with his attempted header.

The Wolves persistence in front of goal paid off on the 20th minute thanks to a moment of magic from their Club captain. Xavi curled a impressive free-kick, which looped into the top left hand corner, via a deflection in the Markhiya wall. 

Despite going a goal down, the newly promoted side didn’t let their heads drop and created their first chance of note ten minutes from the break. Summer signing Tijan Jaiteh  saw his long-range shot smartly blocked by Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Dosari who dove to his left to

deflect the ball away. The Wolves headed into the break with a narrow 1-0 lead. 

Ten minutes into the second half, Al Markhiya's Ghanaian attacker Kwame Karikari slipped past his marker and took aim at the Al Sadd goal but again keeper Al Dosari  was equal to the blocked the fast-paced shot.

Al Sadd dominated the ball, but lacked penetration in the final third. It was in fact Markhiya who looked the more dangerous on the break. On the 78th minute, Al Markhiya sub Mahmoud Attiyah attempted a solo effort but his clumsy-looking shot sailed past the Al Sadd goalpost

without causing any alarm. Attiyah’s effort proved to be a warning shot, as Markhiya found a equaliser nine minutes from time. 

Beating the offside trap substitute Salah fired a shot between the legs of Al Sadd goalkeeper Al Dosari as the men in white celebrated the equaliser against their dominant opponents. Markhiya completed the fightback two minutes later, again with Salah at the heart of the action. Taking their opponents on the break, striker Kwame Karikari produced an inch perfect ball to Salah  who slotted away  from close range for the second time in the match to script his team's sensational win.