<div><img style="" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.qsl.qa/sites/default/files/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D…; alt="Alt" title="" /></div>
<p>Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa played out a battling 0-0 draw in a big showdown in Week 2 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Sadd Stadium on Friday.</p><p>Being such an important fixture played in front of a good crowd, it was vital that neither side made any slip-ups in early exchanges. With a cautious, aggressive approach from both teams, it became a match with few clear-cut chances and saw the intervention of VAR to deny goals on two separate occasions.</p><p>The first, at the beginning of the match, went against Al Rayyan’s Lee Jaeik for offside as he outjumped his marker to head the ball into the net.</p><p>Not long after, it was Sofiane Hanni’s goal which was chalked off for Al Gharafa due to an infringement in the build-up to the goal.</p><p>The Lions’ Yacine Brahimi later saw his rasping shot diverted by the assured hands of Qasem Burhan in the Al Gharafa goal.</p><p>It was, however, The Cheetahs with the lion’s share of opportunities as they countered with good efforts from Ahmed Alaaeldin and Othman Al Yahri as they pushed for a winner.</p><p>With Al Rayyan having a strong claim for a penalty denied late on, it was Al Gharafa who nearly grabbed a late victory when Sofiane saw his shot blocked on the line, followed by Moreno Hector rising highest at a corner to watch his header thunder off crossbar to safety.</p><p>A point apiece was a fair end to the high-intensity encounter, but both teams will feel they could have taken more from this match as they look to apply early pressure on their league rivals.</p>