DOHA: Al Shamal defeated Umm Salal 2-1 in the round 1 match of Group B of the 2024-2025 season QSL Cup at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium of Qatar Sports Club on Saturday.
Mohamad Omar (41st minute) and Mohammad Naser Al Mannai (61st minute) scored for Al Shamal while the Orange Fortress’ consolation goal came off the boot of Antonio Mance in the 90+4 minute.
The evenly matched game showed promises of an enthralling encounter right from the start, as both sides seemed to be in a hurry to prove a point by scoring an early goal to put pressure on their opponent.
After several minutes of cool interplay, things began to liven up as the match wore on. Umm Salal’s Antonio Mance had a moment of brilliance in the 23rd minute, dazzling his way past three of Al Shamal’s defenders inside their 18-yard box before releasing a low-driven shot that went just inches wide of Al Shamal’s goalkeeper Abdullah El Rady’s goal.
Al Shamal got their own major chance in the 38th minute, with Mohammad Naser Al Mannai having the opportunity to fire home a long range shot from a rebound of Abdulaziz Mohammed’s shot, but he however lamely miscued the ball.
Three minutes later, the deadlock was eventually broken with Al Shamal’s Mohamad Omar well-taken shot from the edge of the box having a smooth sail into the back of the net.
Al Mannai eventually registered his name on the scorers sheet in the 61st minute from a setpiece with his low but precision-taken shot-catching goalkeeper Jehad Mohammad Hudib napping as the ball located the lower end of his left-hand goal to double the lead for Al Shamal.
A late rally saw Umm Salal cut the deficit in four minutes of added time, with Mance nodding home from close range following a brilliant pass by substitute Othman Alawi.
Despite some flurry of charges by the Orange Fortress in the closing seconds of the match, Al Shamal stood their ground as they went home with the three points in the bargain.
