Al Ahli beat Al Markhiya 2-0 in their Week 9 clash of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Grand Hamad Stadium of Al Arabi club on Friday.

Abdulrasheed Umaru (20th minute) and Yazan Al Naimat (33rd minute) produced two fabulous goals for Al Ahli and to which Al Markhiya, despite their trying efforts, could not find any answer.

Al Ahli’s third victory in the league took their tally to nine points, while Al Markhiya remained on three points.

The Brigadiers were clearly the dominating side and it was their twin telling strikes that took the steam out of Al Markhiya’s challenge.

Al Ahli’s opening goal was thrilling as Al Dokali Al Sayed made a breaking run, lost possession and regained to make a rocketing left-foot strike that had Al Markhiya’s out-of-his-blocks goalkeeper Loukay Sherif Ashour leaping into the air to get his hands to it, but the ball flew out and an onrushing Abdulrasheed slotted it in.

It was not long before Al Ahli doubled the lead with another sizzling move which left the rivals shocked. With most of the Al Markhiya defence line in advancing positions, Al Ahli’s Danilo Arboleda sent in a high lob from near the centre line for Al Naimat to make a perfect breakthrough while just ensuring that he was not offside to get to the ball and lob it over an advancing goalkeeper Ashour, much to the delight of the fans at the stadium.

The strikes left Al Markhiya with a lot to do and although they did comeback with gumption in the second session, their efforts could not bore fruits.

A 52nd minute Driss Fettouhi potential strike was cut off by a defender, but the ball still reached ahead for the Al Ahli goalkeeper Marwan Sherif to avert any danger.

Al Markhiya relied on some of the free-kicks they got, but on two occasions they flew high and wide while once the kick hit the wall but could not break in further.

Then there were some half chances like Noufal Bannis having to reach for a difficult long ball for a connect but he could not at the hour mark.

For his part, Al Markhiya goalkeeper Ashour did well to keep the challenging Al Ahli at bay despite the reversals. He was on the mark in the 42nd minute, as he slided to his right with an outstretched hand to keep out a dangerous Al Dokali shot.