Doha, March 29 (QNA) - Al Duhail further consolidated their lead in the standings after beating Al Gharafa 2-0 in a big encounter in Week 19 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Saturday.

The goals on either half of the highly-entertaining match were courtesy of Almoez Ali (15th minute) and Ismail Mohammed (87th minute) as The Red Knights extended their tally to 44 points, while Al Gharafa remained on 37 points.

Leaders Al Duhail could have gone one up as early as the third minute of play if not for Youssef Ayman being caught slightly offside.

Nine minutes later, Al Gharafa were forced to make an early substitution due to an injury to Ferjani Sassi.

Al Duhail registered the opener through Ali whose right-footed low but powerful shot from the edge of the box caught goalkeeper Khalifa Ndiaye napping.

Michael Olunga would have doubled the lead in the 29th minute had his left-footed shot from the centre of the box been a little bit more precise, while Homam Al Ameen also missed the bull's-eye by the slightest of margins four minutes later.

There were a couple of more chances on both sides, but none was converted as the half ended with the advantage to Al Duhail.

Al Gharafa came out of the dugout a more determined team and they almost got their equalizer three minutes into the half had not the offside flag been raised with Rabeh Boussafi sight on goal. Fabricio Diaz's right-footed shot from more than 35 yards in the 51st minute also went narrowly wide.

Al Duhail ensured the match was beyond Al Gharafa's reach in the 87th minute with a fantastic teamwork play that resulted in Ismail Mohammed having the easiest job of putting the ball into the net after being fed a diagonal pass from the left side of the box by Homam, who had earlier received a brilliant pass from Paulo Edmilson, to the delight of The Red Knights fans and bench.

The goal happened to be the last major highlight of the game as Al Duhail further consolidated their lead in the standings with the victory. (QNA)