Al Shamal defeated Al Gharafa 2-1 in Round 5 (Group B) of the 2023-2024 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Khor Stadium on Sunday.

With the victory, Al Shamal raised their score to three points from a single victory and qualified for the quarterfinals from the group as the fourth team.

Al Duhail (nine points), Al Markhiya (seven points) and Al Rayyan (six points), in that order, too made it to the quarterfinals from Group B.

Al Gharafa ended up in fifth and last position in the group with a single point.

Al Shamal’s goals were scored by Salmeen Al Rumaihi (13th minute)  and Ricardo Gomes (57th minute), while Al Gharafa’s only goal was scored by Yohan Boli (34th minute).

The match was fought fiercely and Al Shamal appeared strongly from the first minute. They took the lead through Salmeen and the goal boosted the morale of their players, who put up a strong performance.

Al Gharafa hit back through Boli and the first half ended in a 1-1 draw.

In the second half, Al Shamal succeeded in snatching the winning goal from a corner kick through Gomes and thus sealed their berth in the quarterfinals.