Umm Salal recorded a valuable victory over Al Markhiya, winning by a 3-2 margin, in Week 19 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Al Duhail Stadium on Saturday.

Abdullah Khafifi (31st minute), Ismail Ibrahim (59th minute) and Aleksa Vukanovic (71st minute) scored the goals for Umm Salal, while Ayoub Assal (35th minute) and Driss Fettouhi (69th minute penalty) were Al Markhiya’s scorers.

Umm Salal thus moved on to 16 points, whereas Al Markhiya remained on 18 points.

Both teams fought it out from the outset with an aim to move to get valuable points and move away from the last positions.

In the third minute, Al Markhiya almost scored a goal after a cross from Jameel Al Yahmadi, but Umm Salal’s Khafifi skillfully evaded the danger conceding a corner kick.

In the 16th minute, Al Markhiya suffered a setback when Khaled Radwan was sent off with a direct red card for charging Umm Salal’s Yassin Al Bakhit.

However, the numerical shortage did not affect The Oryxes much.

Umm Salal, meanwhile, took the lead through Khafifi past the half-hour mark and Al Markhiya struck back soon through Assal.

In the 42nd minute, Umm Salal coach Talal El Karkouri replaced Abdulrahman Raafat with new Serbian professional Aleksa even as the first half ended 1-1.

Umm Salal went ahead a second time through Ismail Ibrahim, who came up with a superb header.

Al Markhiya did not give up and attacked strongly, and were able to draw parity again, through Moroccan Fettouhi from the penalty spot.

The excitement continued and The Orange Fortress struck a decisive blow on Al Markhiya through Aleksa, whose header found the target.