Al Wakrah defeated Al Gharafa 3-2 in Week 19 of the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League at the Al Wakrah Stadium on Sunday.

Mohamed Benyettou (23rd minute) and Jacinto Dala (60th and 70th minutes) scored for Al Wakrah after Sofiane Hanni gave Al Gharafa the lead in the fifth minute.

Abdullah Ali Saei pulled one back for Al Gharafa in stoppage time (90+4 minute).

Al Wakrah moved on to 34 points with their 10th victory.

Al Gharafa remained on 27 points after suffering their eighth defeat.

Al Gharafa were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute after Amro Seraj was red-carded for fouling Hazem Shehata.

Al Wakrah had beaten Al Gharafa 1-0 in the first leg of 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League.

The match between direct competitors for the third and fourth places saw end-to-end action start through finish.

Al Gharafa seized early advantage with Hanni’s goal, a first-time volley off a cross from the left by Homam Al Ameen. Al Wakrah gradually came into the picture, with Benyettou, Hazem and Dala leading their charge.

Al Gharafa concentrated more on midfield play to provide their strikers with opportunities, but it was not to be as they plotted. Luck was not on their side either.

Benyettou helped Al Wakrah draw level with an assist from Hazem.

Al Gharafa’s Cheick Diabate missed chances, at least a couple of them easy, in either half. And Homam was no exception.

The numerical disadvantage also did Al Gharafa in.

Dala, a wily player, then scored two goals in the space of 10 minutes. The first was a neat finish off a through pass from Benyettou. The second was a chip shot into an open net when Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yousef Hassan had left his charge.

Al Gharafa intensified their efforts in the final 20 minutes. However, Aldullah Ali Saei’s goal towards the close only helped them reduce the margin.