Al Gharafa stayed in the fourth position of 2017-18 QNB Stars League standings with a comfortable 3-0 win over Qatar SC in their Week 22 match at home on Sunday.

Al Gharafa finished on 35 points, two above Umm Salal, who were held 1-1 by Al Markhiya in simultaneous kick-off. Going into the match, the fight for the fourth position was between these two teams, who were level on 32 points.

Wesley Sneijder (45th minute) and Mehdi Taremi (68th and 85th minutes) scored the goals.

Al Gharafa made their intentions clear from the start and created chances as they dominated ball possession (56 per cent at half-time and 54 per cent at full time).

Braziian midfielder Diego Amado was blocked by a diving Sataa Al Abbasi, keeping the Qatar SC goal in place of regular custodian Jassim Al Hail, before Qatar international Ahmed Alaaeldin had a header against the side netting.

Al Gharafa’s Assim Madibo then hit straight to Al Abbasi and Amado fumbled with the rebound. 

The Cheetahs finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time whistle when FIFA World Cup runner-up and UEFA Champions League winner Sneijder brought out all his experience and found the net with a direct free-kick past the outstretched hands of Al Abbasi.

The star dutch attacking midfielder, signed before the start of QNB Stars League’s second phase, took his total tally to nine goals. 

Al Gharafa thus compensated for playing out a 1-1 draw with Qatar SC in the first phase.

Al Gharafa brought in Mehdi Taremi at the start of second session, but the pace of the match slowed down a bit. However, the Iranian striker doubled their lead with an opportunistic effort.

They were without Venezuelan defender Rubert Jose due to his thigh muscle injury sustained during a recent training session, but that did not have an impact as Qatar SC forwards failed to make inroads into the rival territory.

Taremi struck again towards the end to complete the tally.