Ahmed Alaaeldin netted a brace as Al Gharafa defeated Al Rayyan 3-0 in the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 18 summit clash at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Sunday.

Alaaeldin scored in the 10th and 60th minutes, while Ahmad Al Janahi added the third goal (90+2 minute) as Al Gharafa firmed up their chase for the top of the league.

With the result, Al Gharafa now have 37 points to further consolidate their second position, while Al Rayyan remained on 32 points.

The feisty encounter witnessed Al Gharafa’s Yacine Brahimi almost getting a booking as early as the third minute of the game for a nasty challenge on Bassam Al Rawi. Despite Al Rayyan’s protest, the referee thought otherwise, as he gave The Cheetahs the benefit of the doubt.

With Al Gharafa pressing hard, Brahimi almost gave them the lead four minutes later after an overlapping run, but his powerful shot went just inches past the upright.

Al Gharafa could, however, not be denied for too long, as Alaaeldin gave them the lead after pouncing on a rebound from Brahimi’s right-footed shot to tap in the opening goal.

Al Rayyan went back to work right after the goal and they were lucky to have a couple of chances which, unfortunately, were not converted.

The Lions began to grow into the game with each passing minute and Al Gharafa were forced to take a series of defensive actions while staving off the rampaging attacks of their opponents. Achraf Bencharki was unlucky to get the equaliser in the 33rd minute after his free header from a corner kick went just inches wide.

Despite Al Rayyan’s attempts, they were unable to change the scoreline as Al Gharafa went into the half-time break with their lone-goal lead.

It was a more rejuvenated Al Gharafa that came out of the dugout after the break and they were, undoubtedly, determined not to sit on their narrow lead, knowing fully well how dangerous their opponents can be.

Al Rayyan captain Abdelaziz Hatem was replaced by Rodrigo Tabata in the 56th minute following an injury and the attacking midfielder hit the ground running almost immediately as his influence ensured a more compact midfield for Leonardo Jardim’s men.

Just as the game appeared to be getting evenly balanced, Alaaeldin netted his brace of the night in a spectacular form on the hour mark. Al Gharafa goalkeeper Khalifa Aboobacker got a quick long ball across to Brahimi, who danced his way around Al Rayyan’s backline before laying a sublime pass to Alaaeldin who wasted no time in blasting a powerful right-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner of Al Rayyan’s goal.

Al Gharafa’s second goal seemed to sap the energy out of Al Rayyan as they became stronger while appearing to toy with their opponents as the clock wound down.

The Lions’ woes were further compounded in the second minute of added time when Al Janahi got Al Gharafa’s third of the night, assisted by Homam Al Ameen.

With no slight hope of a comeback, Al Rayyan were forced to sit back while eagerly awaiting the final whistle as Al Gharafa further consolidated their second position in the standings while chasing league leaders Al Sadd.