Al Shamal defeated Al Gharafa 2-1 in Week 3 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday.

Yassin Bammou scored for Al Shamal in the 69th and 77th minutes, after Yacine Brahimi found the target for Al Gharafa in the 24th minute.

Al Shamal moved on to six points with their second victory even as Al Gharafa stood on four points following their first loss.

The match was exciting in the second half and Al Shamal were the best in the second half after pressing hard and attacking, forcing Al Gharafa to play the second fiddle to their rivals.

The first half was at an average level and Al Gharafa invariably controlled it and were ahead by a goal at the end of it. Al Shamal mostly relied on counter-attacks.

In the 24th minute, Al Gharafa managed to take the lead through Brahimi, who received a through ball inside the area, moved forward alone and shot it skillfully into the net.

The course of the match changed after the goal and Al Shamal left their defensive caution. They almost equalized through Nani, but for the brilliance of Al Gharafa goalkeeper Qasim Burhan, who turned it into a corner with great difficulty in the 36th minute.

In the second half, both sides got chances. However, Al Shamal had an upper hand as the game wore on. They reduced the margin through a fast attack led by Ali Alwan from the right and Bammou found the nark.

Al Shamal pressed hard and Bammou was at it again with a header off a corner kick.