Al Gharafa defeated Al Khor 3-1 in Week 18 of the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League at the Al Duhail Stadium on Monday.

Othman Al Yahri (31st minute), Moayad Hassan (42nd minute) and Koo Ja-Cheol (56th minute) scored for Al Gharafa. Helal Mohammed (90+2) pulled one back for Al Khor.

Al Gharafa climbed from fifth to fourth position with 30 points following their ninth victory. Storming back into the top-four bracket would motivate The Cheetahs as they brace for their 2021 AFC Champions League play-off against Uzbekistan’s FC AGMK in Doha on 7th April for a berth in the tournament proper.

Al Khor remained on 14 points and in the 11th position after suffering their 10th defeat. The Knights thus stood in the danger zone.

The match got off to a fast pace and the first real chance to score came Al Gharafa’s way, with Adlene Guediora wasting an opportunity in the 25th minute. Al Khor’s Naif Al Breiki responded with a strong header, which was sent to a corner kick by Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yousef Hassan.

Then came the opening goal, with Othman heading in Yousef Muftah’s cross from the right, beating Al Khor goalkeeper Baba Djibril.

Al Khor tried to equalise and Ismail Elhaddad wasted an opportunity by shooting over the crossbar.

Moayad doubled Al Gharafa’s lead as he evaded the offside trap and found the mark after being assisted by Sofiane Hanni.

Al Khor intensified their attempts in the second half, but it was Al Gharafa who scored again when Koo rose high to head in a corner kick.

Al Gharafa’s Jonathan Kodjia and Ahmed Alaaeldin had chances to score before Helal reduced the margin for Al Khor in stoppage time.

Al Gharafa had beaten Al Khor 6-3 in the first leg of 2020-21 season QNB Stars League.