Al Rayyan: Al Gharafa edged past Umm Salal with a 1-0 victory in their Round 18 match of the Ooredoo Stars League, held at Thani bin Jassim Stadium.

According to Qatar News Agency, the match's sole goal came in injury time of the first half (45+3), scored by Spanish striker Joselu after a precise long ball from Ferjani Sassi, helping Al Gharafa rebound from their previous defeat to Al Sadd. The win lifted Al Gharafa to 37 points, solidifying their third place, while Umm Salal remained in the relegation zone with 15 points.

Al Gharafa dominated early with multiple chances, including a strong effort by Yacine Brahimi in the 7th minute, denied by the goalkeeper, and another close attempt by Amro Siraj in the 12th minute. Despite their control, Umm Salal's defense held firm until Joselu's strike broke the deadlock.

In the second half, Al Gharafa maintained their pressure and came close to doubling their lead, but two goals were disallowed after VAR reviews, citing fouls in the buildup. Umm Salal made late attempts to equalize, with Antonio Mance's header and Kenji Gorre's powerful shot both denied by goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar.

Al Gharafa's resilience ultimately secured them the much-needed victory.