Al Sailiya got the better of Al Shamal by a 2-1 margin in Week 2 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Education City Stadium on Wednesday.

Giannis Fetfatzidis (15th minute) and Carlos Strandberg (68th minute) scored for Al Sailiya, while Mohammed El Sayed (eighth minute) found the target for Al Shamal.

The win saw Al Sailiya get their first three points of the season, whereas Al Shamal, who had defeated Al Rayyan in the first round, were left to rue the loss.

Al Shamal got into the lead early in the match through a fine relay combination of Salmeen Atiq Al Rumaihi, who crossed a pass to Yacine Bammou before he moved it over for Mohammed El Sayed (Jeddo) to beat the goalkeeper from top of the box.

Al Sailiya soon got the equaliser from a brilliant free-kick taken by their Greek winger Giannis Fetfatzidis from well outside the penalty area. His almost 25-yard curler went between a two-man wall and past a diving goalkeeper into the left corner of the goal.

Al Shamal then made several attempts to hit back raiding the rival goal, but with no success.

The second half saw more frenetic action with both teams creating many open spaces.

Al Shamal came close again this time through a header at the goal, but the alert goalkeeper made a good save.

The see-saw battle to make a breakthrough continued and Al Sailiya made the most of a defensive lapse when Al Shamal’s Al Rumaihi failed to stop a cross which deflected towards a waiting Strandberg inside the box and the Swedish striker made no mistake in striking the winning goal.

The final 30 minutes of the match saw Al Shamal make all their efforts, but Al Sailiya held on well.