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<p>Al Gharafa defeated Al Wakrah 2-1 in Week 17 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Thursday.</p><p>Sofiane Hanni (60th-minute penalty) and Jonathan Kodjia (70th minute) scored for Al Gharafa as they moved on to 28 points.</p><p>It was a brilliant fightback by Al Gharafa, who rallied from being a goal down as early as the fourth minute as Al Wakrah had seized an early initiative through Iliass Bel Hassani.</p><p>It was Al Gharafa’s eighth victory, while Al Wakrah, who had lost 1-2 to Umm Salal in the previous round, crashed to their eighth defeat and stood on 19 points.</p><p>Possession was even for both teams throughout the game.</p><p>Bel Hassani’s goal, a long-range shot, was literally a bolt from the blue for Al Gharafa, who equalised through a penalty converted by Hanni. The penalty was awarded when Ahmed Alaaeldin was tripped by Al Wakrah defender Ali Karami.</p><p>Kodjia headed in Muad Hassan’s cross from the right to give Al Gharafa the lead.</p><p>Hanni then had a chance to cement Al Gharafa’s position, but could not find the mark a second time.</p><p>At the other end, Mohamed Benyettou had come close towards securing an equaliser for The Blue Wave, but was off the mark.</p><p>The three points were a great relief for The Cheetahs, who have not had a good run of late. They had exited from two cup tournaments in consecutive weeks recently, bowing out of Amir Cup in the pre-quarterfinal stage after losing to Second Division side Al Markhiya before they suffered the setback in Ooredoo Cup, where they were two-time defending champions.</p><p>Al Gharafa were then held 1-1 by Al Ahli in Week 15 of the QNB Stars League and suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Al Sailiya in Week 16.</p><p>Al Wakrah and Al Gharafa had played out a 3-3 draw in the first leg of 2019-20 QNB Stars League.</p>