Al Duhail regained pole position in the 2019-20 QNB Stars League as they came from behind to claim all three points following a frenetic 2-1 victory at home to Al Gharafa in a Week 8 match on Saturday.

Al Gharafa scored through Sofiane Hanni in the 61st minute and Al Duhail brought the game level via Mohammed Muntari in the 66th minute before Paulo Edmilson completed the scoring in the 87th minute.

With both teams set up offensively, a good game was on the cards and neither side disappointed with their attacking endeavours.

Ahmed Alaaeldin broke free early on for Al Gharafa and should have opened the scoring when in on goal, but his shot was blasted over. Almoez Ali also saw a low-curling free-kick from the edge of the area parried to safety by the keeper in the frantic early exchanges.

Al Gharafa had edged the opening stages based on chances and were unfortunate not to score when Alaeeldin flashed a dangerous cross into the penalty box and the oncoming Sofiane could not keep his shot down.

Al Duhail started the second half on the front foot and thought they had scored when Yousef Msakni smashed the ball against the post before Ali Afif’s powerful rebounded strike demanded a great save from Qasem Burhan.

Burhan was in action again moments later when Msakni broke free of his marker and lashed a shot which was saved in brilliant style.

It was always going to take something special to separate these two teams and that moment arrived when Sofiane picked up the ball on the edge of the area before planting a low, right-footed drive into the corner, with the goalkeeper standing no chance of preventing the goal. 

The lead did not last long though when substitute Ismail Mohammed advanced down the right and his perfect cross across the face of the goal was met by the grateful Muntari to hit home.

With more and more chances being created by Al Duhail, it was no surprise when they made the breakthrough in the dying moment as Edmilson latched onto a cross-field pass and controlled the ball perfectly before striking in emphatic fashion, with Ahmed Yasser brilliantly setting him up.