Al Gharafa rode on a hat-trick by Malian striker Cheick Diabate to defeat Al Khor 5-0 in Week 7 of the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Tuesday.

Gabriel Pires (20th minute), Cheick Diabate (36th, 45+1 and 75th minutes), Muyad Hassan (43rd minute) scored for Al Gharafa.

It was Al Gharafa’s fourth victory and it raised their points to 12.

Meanwhile, Al Khor stood on four points after crashing to their third defeat. The Knights’ search for their first victory in this season’s tournament thus continues.

The big-margin victory enabled Al Gharafa to overcome the 4-6 loss to reigning champions Al Sadd in the previous round.

Al Khor, Al Ahli and Umm Salal, who lost 1-3 to Al Sadd in Tuesday’s early kick-off, are the only teams yet to register a victory in this season’s league.

Al Khor, who drew 2-2 with Al Ahli in the previous round with the help of two late goals, kept Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yousef Hassan on tenterhooks initially, but he was on alert.

After scoring all four goals in the first half, Al Gharafa took their foot off the pedal a bit in the latter session.

On the other hand, Al Khor attackers, especially Giannis Fetfatzidid and Kayke Rodriguez, struggled without supply.

Al Khor tried hard from the start of second half and had some chances, but failed to score.

Al Khor’s Musaab Abdulmajid made an attempt at the goal in the 73rd minute.

Immediately afterwards, Al Gharafa rounded off their tally through Diabate’s hat-trick to register a convincing victory.