Al Duhail beat Al Gharafa 2-1 in Week 17 of the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League at the Qatar SC Stadium on Monday.

Mohammed Muntari (19th minute) and Eduardo Pereira Rodrigues (Dudu) (44th minute) scored for Al Duhail, while Jonathan Kodjia (24th minute) struck one for Al Gharafa from the penalty spot.

The Red Knights consolidated their second spot with 34 points, while Al Gharafa stayed on 27 points.

As Al Duhail got off to a fast start, Michael Olunga was on target early when he headed the ball past Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yousef Hassan in a third-minute corner kick. But referee Abdulhadi Al Ruaile, after consulting the VAR, disallowed the Kenyan striker’s goal due to offside.

Olunga got another opportunity to score after a fine ball from Assim Madibo, but he hit the ball wide from a difficult angle as the clock reached the double figures.

Al Gharafa too created chances that included their 17th minute attack when Kodjia stormed near the danger area, but Al Duhail defenders were well in time to thwart him.

Just a few moments later, Al Duhail went ahead when Muntari, unmarked near the penalty area, fired a left-footed shot into the net following a corner kick by Dudu.

However, Al Gharafa did not have to wait much to find an equaliser as they won a penalty after Al Brake committed a foul against Homam Al Ameen near the goal post. Kodjia hit a confident low shot from the spot, firing the ball past a diving goalkeeper Salah Zakaria.

Five minutes before half-time, the referee reversed his decision of awarding another penalty to Kodjia following Al Brake’s challenge against him – after checking with VAR.

In the penultimate minute of the first half, Brazilian Dudu put Al Duhail in the lead again with a header from close range after a fine cross following an attack from the left flank.

Al Gharafa, aiming to bounce back, made a fiery attack in stoppage time, but the rival goalkeeper made a flying save from Adlene Guedioura’s bullet from near the penalty area to keep the Sabri Lamouchi-coached side in lead at half-time.

The second session started in similar fashion, with both sides creating opportunities to score.

Kodjia and Dudu both came close to scoring their second goal during the exchanges, but none of the teams succeeded in finding a goal in the second half as Al Duhail emerged as victorious.