Al Ahli defeated Al Gharafa 3-0 in Round 5 (Group B) of 2020-21 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Khor Stadium on Monday.

The commanding win saw Al Gharafa top Group B with 13 points as the tournament enters the knockout stage.

Saied Elhag Eisa (third minute), Othman Al Yahri (10th minute) and Sofiane Hanni (68th minute) scored the goals.

Al Gharafa grabbed the lead when Abdulghani Muneer beautifully curled in a free-kick and Saied found the target with a snap-header after outpacing Al Ahli defender Shane Lowry.

Al Gharafa doubled their lead through Al Yahri, who exhibited good speed near the Al Ahli box. After receiving a loopy cross a few metres away from the edge of Al Ahli box, Al Yahri outpaced Mohammed Al Naimi before rifling in a low shot with his right foot.

In the 20th minute, Al Ahli’s Hazem Shehata fired a left-footed low drive that beat Al Gharafa keeper Salah Zakaria Hassan, but the ball got ricocheted off the post.

Twelve minutes later, Al Ahli’s Abdulrasheed Umaru took aim at the Al Gharafa goal from close range, but misfired with his effort despite having ample space to find the net.

Al Gharafa’s third goal came after Al Ahli defender Ibrahim Majed produced a clumsy sliding tackle on Hanni close to the box. Hanni survived the tackle and charged into the box. Al Ahli goalkeeper Yazan Naim stepped out to block the move, but Hanni calmly slotted the ball home.