ASH-SHAMAL, Qatar (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of pregame projections, Qatar SC delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over Al Shamal SC on Monday in a Qatar Stars League match at Fort Stadium.

The result defied the overwhelming forecasts from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 2-0 win for Al Shamal and whose ELO system gave the home side a 64.8 percent probability of victory. Instead, Qatar SC seized control early and never relented, handing Al Shamal a defeat to open the league campaign for both sides.

The visitors established their dominance within the first ten minutes. After an early yellow card to Qatar SC defender Michel Termanini in the 5th minute, substitute Ahmed Al Rawi opened the scoring just two minutes later. Al Rawi found the net in the 7th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Termanini, who quickly atoned for his disciplinary infraction with a key contribution to the attack.

Qatar SC doubled its lead before the match reached the 20-minute mark. Another substitute, João Pedro, struck in the 18th minute, finishing a play set up by fellow substitute Serigne Fallou Diouf. The early two-goal burst, both created and finished by players introduced from the bench, underscored the depth and immediate impact of Qatar SC’s squad.

The match grew increasingly fractious as Al Shamal struggled to mount a response. The first half concluded with a flurry of cards, including a yellow for Qatar SC forward Baghdad Bounedjah in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The period was further marred by a red card issued to Al Shamal’s Ali Saoudi in the 13th minute of added time, reducing the home side to ten men for the entire second half.

Playing with a man advantage, Qatar SC managed the game effectively through the second half. The period was characterized by persistent midfield disruptions, resulting in five additional yellow cards distributed between both teams. Substitutes Mus’ab Battat and Ali Nader of Qatar SC received cautions, as did Abdullah Al Ahrak. Al Shamal’s Eisa Ahmad Palangi and Qatar SC’s Diouf were also booked in the closing moments.

The assists on Qatar SC’s goals highlighted a team-wide effort. Beyond Termanini and Diouf, helpers were credited to Battat, Nader, Al Ahrak, Palangi and Bounedjah, reflecting a diverse array of playmakers in the victory.

With the win, Qatar SC begins its Stars League season with a record of 1 win and 0 losses, while also moving to 1-0 across all competitions. Al Shamal SC starts its campaign in the opposite fashion, falling to 0-1 both in the league and in all matches this season. The teams will look to build on these results when the Qatar Stars League schedule resumes next week.