Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: ACL Group D side Al Gharafa will be relying on the cup competitions after the 2011 Qatar Stars League (QSL) runner-up finished at sixth place despite a 3-1 win over 2011 AFC Champions League winner Al Sadd on the last match day of the league on Friday.
The win was a big blow for the reigning ACL Champions Al Sadd who only managed fourth place finish in the 12-team league and, like Gharafa, will be concentrating on the cup competitions to come back in the continental competition next year.
Former Sao Paulo forward Diego Tardelli (Martins) opened the account at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in the 19th minute followed by a quick-fire double respectively in the 32nd and 45th minute from 20-year old local lad Moayed Hassan. Al Sadd pulled one back from Nasser Nabeel in the 48th minute but failed to produce any magical moment in the second half to stay at the fourth of the table as Al Rayyan moved into third position following their stunning 3-1 win over champions Lekhwiya elsewhere at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium.
Al Gharafa’s season could go from bad to worse if they fail to produce any significant performance against Group D leader Piroozi at Azadi Stadium on 17th April. Piroozi, who comfortably defeated Al Gharafa at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in their previous ACL match, lead Group D with seven points from three matches while Al Gharafa is at the third of the table accumulating two points from three matches.