Al Markhiya registered their first win and first points of the season after defeating Al Shamal 2-1 in the opening match in Week 6 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Grand Hamad Stadium of Al Arabi club on Friday.

Al Markhiya, under new coach Madjid Bougherra, came from behind to secure the win after Al Shamal’s Majed Mohammed had opened the scoring in the 26th minute, with Yusupha Njie hitting both goals for the winners in the 45+3 and 88th minutes.

Al Markhiya now have three points, while Al Shamal remained on three points after as many draws and losses in six matches.

The early stage of the match was a sloppy affair, with both teams making some defensive errors that neither of them could capitalize on.

Al Shamal’s Salmin Atiq came close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute from a Ricardo Gomes assist, but his final touch on the ball was, however, discouraging as he hit the right post from the centre of the box.

Gomes also had a good opportunity to put Al Shamal in the lead in the 13th minute, but his right-footed shot from long range, following an assist from Mohammed Al Jabri, missed to the left.

With Al Shamal constantly pounding on Al Markhiya’s defence, it was not therefore surprising that Bougherra’s team eventually gave way, with Majed taking advantage of a defensive indecision after a long ball from Jassim Al Hashemi from the centre half to slot in a right-footed shot for the opening goal.

Ali Olwan almost made it two for Al Shamal in the 43rd minute after beating Al Markhiya’s defence, but goalkeeper Louay Ashour perfectly read the move and intercepted the ball before any damage could be done.

Yusupha Njie restored parity for Al Markhiya just at the stroke of half-time with a simple tap-in after Portuguese Diogo Rocha’s (Rochinha) precise across-the-goal cross located him in a perfect position in the right-hand side of goalkeeper Abdalla El Rady’s goal. The goal was, however, subjected to a VAR check due to a potential offside call, but it was eventually allowed to stand after the check.

Al Markhiya emerged from the half-time break more rejuvenated and they could have taken the lead in the 48th minute had Njie managed to beat the goalkeeper after a sublime run in Al Shamal’s box.

Al Shamal’s Jeison Murillo saw a header from the centre of the box blocked in the 63rd minute, while Majed’s right-footed shot from the left side of the box, a few seconds later, went high and wide to the right following a corner.

The match turned on its head in the 88th minute, with Njie registering his second of the night from a Joao Teixeira assist to give Al Markhiya their first win and first points of the season.

With seven minutes of added time, Al Shamal expectedly pulled out all the stops in their search for a much-needed equalizer but, as much as they tried, Al Markhiya stood their ground as they ran away with a morale-boosting victory.