Al Shahania held Al Khor to a 2-2 draw in the final round (Week 22) of 2019-20 season QNB Stars League at the Al Janoub Stadium on Thursday.

However, Al Shahania could not help themselves from getting directly relegated to the Second Division as they finished bottom of the 12-team tournament with 16 points, one less than Al Khor who will face the Second Division runners-up in play-off for a place in next season’s top flight.

Second Division champions Al Kharaitiyat had already earned a berth in the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League.

Ramin Rezaein (fourth-minute-penalty) and 74th-minute scored for Al Shahania.

Tiago Bezerra (45+1) and Lucca Borges (53rd minute) were Al Khor’s scorers.

Coincidentally, Al Shahania and Al Khor had played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg.

Al Khor finished with three victories, eight draws and 11 defeats, whereas Al Shahania registered two wins, 10 draws and as many losses.

It was a direct between the teams to avoid relegation and play-off.

Al Shahania, who were unbeaten in the first three games (Weeks 18, 19 and 20) since the tournament resumed after a long break, have been doing well ever since Nabil Anwar took charge of them, replacing Spaniard Jose Murcia who oversaw their promotion to the top flight in the 2018-19 season.

Nabil’s wards raised visions of a much-needed victory when they took the lead as early as the fourth minute. Al Khor’s Mohammed Juma fouled Rezaein and the latter himself converted from the penalty spot.

Al Shahania’s Kesse Amanguoa had a goal ruled offside after 30 minutes and Al Khor drew level in first-half injury time as Tiago headed in a Lucca free-kick from the left.

Al Khor missed a chance to go up when Lucca’s penalty was stopped by Al Shahania goalkeeper Ebrahim Daryoush. The penalty was awarded after Rezaein ‘handled’ the ball off a header from Tiago.

In the second half, Daryoush thwarted Ahmed Hammoudan after Lucca made it 2-1 with a powerful long-range shot.

Rezaein found the target for a second time with a placing shot past the goalkeeper, as the teams shared the spoils.