AL SHAMAL, Qatar (Interstat) — Al Markhiya scored three unanswered goals in a decisive stretch and held off Shamal II for a 3-1 victory in a global football match. The visiting side controlled much of the opening hour, scoring in the 25th minute, the 41st minute and the 47th minute before Shamal II pulled one back in the 61st minute. Al Markhiya’s win improved its record in this competition to 1-0-0 and its record across all competitions to 1-0-1. Shamal II fell to 0-1-0 in the competition and 0-1-0 across all competitions.

Al Markhiya took charge early and never trailed. The opening goal arrived in the 25th minute, giving the visitors a lead they protected with a steady, patient approach. Another goal in the 41st minute doubled the advantage before halftime, sending Al Markhiya into the break with a comfortable cushion. The second goal also changed the pressure on Shamal II, which needed a response before the match could slip further away.

Two minutes after the break, Al Markhiya struck again in the 47th minute, making it 3-0 and putting the match firmly under its control. The third goal capped a decisive run either side of halftime and left Shamal II needing a major comeback to salvage anything from the game. Al Markhiya’s finishing in that stretch proved the difference, as the visitors converted their key chances and kept the home side at a distance.

Shamal II responded with a goal in the 61st minute, cutting the deficit to 3-1. The home side pressed for another goal to create a tense finish, but Al Markhiya managed the closing stages and protected its two-goal cushion. Shamal II could not find a second breakthrough, and Al Markhiya saw out the victory. The match ended with four total goals.

Shamal II’s goal in the 61st minute gave the hosts renewed energy, and for a stretch they pushed numbers forward in search of a second goal. Al Markhiya dropped deeper, cleared danger and slowed the tempo when possible. The visitors did not add to their total, but they did enough to keep Shamal II from turning the final minutes into a genuine comeback. Al Markhiya’s three-goal burst had built a margin that held until the final whistle.

Al Markhiya’s record in the competition now stands at 1-0-0. Across all competitions, Al Markhiya is 1-0-1, adding the win to a 1-1 draw with Al Ahli Doha in its previous match. Shamal II’s competition record is 0-1-0, and its overall record is 0-1-0 after the loss.

The result gave Al Markhiya a positive start in the competition and continued its unbeaten run across all competitions. Shamal II, meanwhile, remained in search of its first win and first points in the competition. The home side had moments after the 61st-minute goal but could not close the gap further. Al Markhiya’s defense held firm in the final half-hour, limiting clear chances as the clock wound down.

Al Markhiya’s scoring came in a concentrated stretch either side of halftime. The 25th-minute goal set the tone, the 41st-minute goal provided breathing room, and the 47th-minute goal capped the decisive run. Shamal II’s lone goal in the 61st minute gave the home supporters something to cheer, but it was not enough to spark a full comeback. The visitors’ ability to score before and immediately after the break proved the difference.

Before the match, Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Al Markhiya 1, Shamal II 0. Interstat’s ELO system gave Shamal II a 55.9 percent probability to win. Al Markhiya had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 2.5.