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<p>Al Sailiya defeated Al Gharafa 2-0 in Week 16 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Ahli Stadium on Friday.</p><p>Nadir Belhadj (third minute) and Mohammed Mudather (35th minute) scored for Al Sailiya, who took their tally to 23 points. It was also The Peregrines’ seventh victory.</p><p>Al Sailiya thus extended their domination over Al Gharafa this season, having beaten The Cheetahs 3-1 in the first leg of 2019-20 QNB Stars League.</p><p>Al Gharafa stood on 25 points after suffering their fifth defeat. It was an unimpressive display by a side that started off the season well and occupied a position in the top four for long.</p><p>Belhadj’s individual brilliance was writ large on the first goal as he produced a skilful run down the middle before rattling the net with a long-ranger.</p><p>Al Sailiya doubled the lead, with Belhadj giving the cross for Mudather to shoot home after Al Gharafa’s Hector Moreno failed to clear the ball.</p><p>Al Gharafa were unlucky to have a goal disallowed for offside when Adlene Guediora scored off a pass from Hanni.</p><p>Hanni then wasted an easy chance on 40 minutes as he sent his shot over the bar from close range.</p><p>Both teams continued to play an open game.</p><p>Not long after the second half started, Al Gharafa goalkeeper Qasim Burhan had to effect a a diving save to thwart Serigne Mbodji’s header.</p><p>Injured Burhan was later replaced by Mohammed Muntazar even as Al Gharafa found the going tough and the scoreline remained unchanged.</p><p>The victory gave Al Sailiya a great relief as they were going through a lean patch in the second leg, losing in Weeks 12, 13 and 14, to Al Khor, Al Ahli and Al Sadd respectively.</p><p>They had also lost their 2020 AFC Champions League play-off to Iran’s Shahr Kodro, thus failing to book a berth in the tournament proper.</p><p>However, Al Sailiya had bounced back with a 1-0 win over Qatar SC in Week 15.</p><p>The loss compounded Al Gharafa’s woes as they had exited from two cup tournaments in consecutive weeks recently, bowing out of Amir Cup in the pre-quarterfinal stage and Ooredoo Cup in the quarterfinal stage despite being the two-time defending champions.</p>