Doha – Al Gharafa held on to their place at the summit of the Doha Bank Stars League at the halfway stage of the season, despite suffering a surprise setback in the latest round.
The league leaders were stunned 3-0 by bottom side Al Shahaniya, a defeat that ended Pedro Martinez’s side’s winning run and marked only their second loss of the campaign. While Al Gharafa missed the chance to stretch their advantage at the top, results elsewhere ensured they remained in control with 25 points, four clear of their closest challengers.
Second-placed Al Shamal also slipped up, falling 3-0 at home to reigning champions Al Sadd. The victory allowed Al Sadd to close the gap on the leaders to five points and move into joint third place, keeping their title defense firmly on track.
Al Gharafa’s loss denied them the opportunity to open a seven-point cushion over Al Shamal, whose defeat was their first at Al Shamal Stadium under Spanish coach David Prats. The absence of Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah proved costly as Al Shamal suffered only their second loss of the season.
At the bottom, Al Shahaniya finally found relief after a difficult run of results. The emphatic win was just their second of the season under Spanish coach Santiago Denia, although they remain last in the standings with seven points. It was also their fourth victory over Al Gharafa in 11 league meetings.
Al Sadd continued their resurgence under new head coach Roberto Mancini, recording a second consecutive win since his appointment. Spanish forward Rafa Mujica was the star of the night, netting his first hat-trick of the season as Al Sadd claimed their fourth straight league victory and sixth overall. The result extended their dominance over Al Shamal, marking a twelfth win in the last 15 encounters between the sides.
Elsewhere, Al Duhail edged Qatar SC 1-0 to secure their fourth win of the season, while condemning Qatar SC to a fourth consecutive defeat.
The traditional Qatari derby between Al Rayyan and Al Arabi ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw. Al Rayyan moved to 20 points, level with Al Sadd on goal difference, while Al Arabi climbed to sixth with 17 points under Romanian coach Cosmin Contra, in his fifth match since taking charge.(QNA)
