Al Rayyan scored a hard-fought 2-0 win over Al Shamal in Round 4 (Group B) of the 2023-2024 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Khor Stadium on Sunday.

Both of Al Rayyan’s goals came in the exciting second half, which also saw a penalty being saved by Al Shamal goalkeeper Abdullah El Rady.

Achraf Bencharki scored the opening goal for The Lions in the 63rd minute and Rodrigo Tabata struck from a long range in the 67th minute for the other goal.

Their second win in three games took Al Rayyan’s tally to six points, while Al Shamal stayed without any point from three matches.

Al Markhiya, Al Duhail and Al Gharafa are the other teams in Group B.

Al Shamal provided solid resistance to Al Rayyan’s attacking game throughout especially in the opening half, which saw Thiago Mendes missing out on a good chance in the 13th minute when he had only the goalkeeper to beat.

Al Rayyan, however, hit back with more intensity after the break and soon they made a fine move in front of Al Shamal goal in the 52nd minute, but Bencharki from the left flicked wide of the target.

The relentless efforts of Al Rayyan soon bore fruit when they won a penalty in the 62nd minute when Al Shamal’s Mohammed Al Jabri brought down a charging Sofiane Boufal at the top of the box. The foul also meant a second yellow and resulting red card for Al Jabri.

Al Rayyan, however, could not capitalize on it as Boufal’s spot kick was stopped low in the right corner by Abdullah El Rady.

The joy for Al Shamal was shortlived as Al Rayyan hit back with a co-ordinated move from the left and Gabriel Pereira made a fine curling cross which touched the head of a jumping Tabata before finding an unmarked Bencharki on the right and he coolly found the net with a perfect right-foot interception.

Al Rayyan then doubled their lead four minutes later with Tabata producing a terrific diagonal floating kick from 10 yards left outside the box, which found the top right corner of the net.

Towards the end, Al Rayyan pressed for more, but an alert Al Shamal custodian El Rady did well to stave off the threats.