<div><img style="" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.qsl.qa/sites/default/files/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D…; alt="Alt" title="" /></div>
<p>Al Gharafa and Al Duhail played out an entertaining goalless draw in Week 17 of the QNB Stars League on Saturday.</p><p>However, the result dented a blow to Al Duhail’s bid to retain the title as they suffered their fourth draw to lag behind leaders Al Sadd. </p><p>Al Duhail moved to 40 points and Al Gharafa 19.</p><p>Al Gharafa started off briskly and earned a corner kick soon after the start, only to see Ahmed Alaaeldin head the ball straight to goalkeeper Amine Lecomte off a kick taken by Abdulaziz Hatem.</p><p>However, it was Al Duhail who had more chances and ball possession once they settled down. While captain Karim Boudiaf sent a wayward shot, new Japanese recruit Shoya Nakajima and team’s top scorer Yousef El Arabi came close to scoring with their attempts.</p><p>Qatar’s Asian Cup triumph fame Bassam Al Rawi almost put Al Duhail in the lead when he sent a free-kick slightly over the bar as the first half drew to a close.</p><p>Al Gharafa were more in the game in the second half and Alaaeldin tested Lecomte with a powerful, rising shot from top of the box around the hour mark.</p><p>Al Duhail, in their bid to intensify the attack, brought in Ali Afif in place of Luis Martin and then Paolo Edmilson replaced striker Mohammed Muntari.</p><p>The move looked fruitful as Edmilson found the net in the 70th minute off a counter-attack, but referee Abdulhadi Al Ruaile ruled the goal offside after referring to Video Assistant Referee.</p><p>Ali Afif came up with a feeble shot and Edmilson beat goalkeeper Yousef Hassan, who had a good game, in the 86th minute, but Al Gharafa defender Ilyas Ahmed saved the ball at the goalline. </p><p>Al Duhail’s new signing and Moroccan defender Mehdi Benatia then headed the ball straight to the goalkeeper off a corner kick in the 90th minute as the stalemate continued at the Al Gharafa Stadium.</p><p>Edmilson was more enterprising as Nakajima and El Arabi both had a subdued game.</p><p>The result was a big consolation for Al Gharafa, who had lost to Umm Salal in the previous round.</p>