The Play-Off, that pits the QNB Stars League’s 11th-placed team (Qatar SC) against Second Division runners-up (Muaither SC) for a berth in the 2019-20 season QNB Stars League, will kick off at 18:45 at the Al Duhail Stadium on Wednesday, 17th April.

Qatar SC went into the Play-Off after finishing one place above directly-relegated Al Kharaitiyat in the just-concluded 2018-19 QNB Stars League. The Kings finished on 16 points, one more than The Thunders.

Qatar SC could register only four wins from the 22 rounds of action. They drew four matches, but lost 14. To make matters worse, they lost 3-4 to Al Rayyan in the final round.

Obviously, Argentinian Sergio Batista’s wards will be keen on retaining their berth in the top flight.

On the other hand, Muaither SC, founded in 1996, will target a place in the First Division for the third time in their history. They featured in the top flight in 2013-14 and 2016-17 seasons.

Muaither SC finished second behind Al Wakrah, who earned an automatic berth in the QNB Stars League, in this season’s Second Division.

Although Muaither SC and Al Markhiya were tied on points (27), the former made the Play-Off cut having had a better goal difference of +12 (30 goals for and 18 against), compared to the latter’s +8 (21 goals for and 13 against).

This season’s Second Division was played in a triple round-robin format with each of the six teams playing five games. Mesaimeer, Al Shamal and Al Bidda were the other sides in that order in the final standings.

According to regulations, if the Play-Off ends in a draw after regular time, an extra time of 30 minutes (divided into two halves) will be allowed. If the deadlock still continues, the match will be decided in penalty shoot-out.