Al Shamal kept up their winning touch as they beat a gritty Al Markhiya 2-0 in Week 17 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Al Bayt Stadium on Monday.

Al Markhiya, who were quite forceful in their attacks in the opening half, were pushed back in defence after they were reduced to 10 men following the expulsion of Tamim Al Muhaza in 45+4 minute for charging Al Shamal’s Faisal Mohammed while going for the ball inside the box.

Al Shamal then struck through Faisal in the 68th minute and later in the 84th minute through Ricardo Gomes.

The second win in a row for Al Shamal moved them to 18 points, while Al Markhiya remained 12th with eight points.

The clash was exciting and Al Markhiya, who earlier held Al Duhail and had beaten Al Wakrah, showed sparks in their attack early, but lacked bite in finishing.

In the 33rd minute, Yusupha Nije rushed inside the box to make a header, but could not get to the ball and also the offside flag was up.

There were a few more raids from Al Markhiya before Al Muhaza received the marching orders.

In the second session, Al Shamal came out with all guns blazing and attacked from both flanks.

Al Markhiya goalkeeper Oumar Barry had a lot of work to do as he made some fine diving saves in the 63rd and 65th minutes.

A few minutes later, a quick Al Shamal co-ordinated effort had the goalkeeper foxed to his right. Substitute Fahad Al Bayati lobbed in a ball from the left as Younes Belhanda moved it to his right and Gomes let it go for an incoming Faisal to make the strike into the left corner of the goal.

With advantage gained, Al Shamal continued with a flurry of attacks. In the 73rd minute, their Under-21 player Mahdi Salem’s kick touched the fingertips of a stretched goalkeeper for the ball to go just wide to the right of the goal.

Next minute, Barry had to make another quick save. In the 77th minute, Belhanda made an attempt from the top of the box, but he shot wide to the right.

Al Shamal eventually struck again as Gomes struck from the top of the box following a fine move to rattle the back of the net.