Al Gharafa launched the 2021-2022 QNB Stars League season with a commanding 2-0 win over Al Shamal in Week 1 at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Saturday.

Ahmed Al Janehi (20th minute) opened the scoring for Al Gharafa. Maintaining good ball possession, The Cheetahs doubled the lead when Moyad Hassan found the net in the 33rd minute.

The match got off to a fast pace with Al Gharafa dictating the proceedings. Skipper Hassan early on missed an easy chance to score from close range, but his shot flew above the Al Shamal crossbar in the ninth minute.

A minute later, Algerian attacking midfielder Sofiane Hanni curled in a spectacular shot from the edge of the box, but Al Shamal keeper Hassan Idriss was alert to stop the ball.

In what could have been a spectacular goal, Al Shamal skipper Baha Faisal – from the edge of the Al Gharafa box – unleased a powerful shot that hit the goalpost and sailed away in the 17th minute.

Al Gharafa soon afterwards scored. Hanni, after receiving a long cross, found Al Janehi with a low flick. Al Janehi was quick to shoot the ball into the net from close range.

In the 32nd minute, Al Gharafa doubled the lead when Hassan slipped in a low shot that beat a defender and keeper Idriss. 

Al Shamal lifted their game in the second half. A little after the hour-mark, Jeison Escobar charged into the Al Gharafa box, but his fierce shot deflected off the leg of keeper Yousef Haasan.

Ten minutes later, Al Shamal skipper Faisal found the net with a shot from inside the net, but the effort was ruled offside by assistant referee.

Four minutes from close, Al Ghafara’s Almahdi Ali scored off a header following a corner kick, but the goal was disallowed for a foul.