Al Duhail began their 2023-2024 season Ooredoo Cup title defense with a 2-1 win over Al Shamal in the first round match of Group B at the Grand Hamad Stadium on Sunday.
The Red Knights were challenged several times in the absorbing tie before the defending champions prevailed by the slender margin.
All the goals came in the first half of the match. While Fares Said (22nd minute) and Isaac Lihadji (33rd minute-penalty) scored for Al Duhail, Mohsen Al Yazidi scored Al Shamal’s only goal in the 38th minute.
With this result, Al Duhail gained three points, while Al Shamal remained without a score.
At the end of the round, Al Markhiya came from three goals down to play out a 3-3 tantalizing draw with Al Gharafa at the Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium.
Al Gharafa’s goals came off the boots of Ahmed Al Janhi (eighth minute) and Yohan Boli (11th and 45+3 minutes), while Yusupha Njie (52nd minute penalty and 68th minute) and Talal Ali (65th minute) scored for Al Markhiya.
This result gave each team one point.
Source: Qatar News Agency