Doha: Al Gharafa came from behind to beat Al Arabi 3-1 in Week 20 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday.
Yacine Brahimi (45th minute) scored the equalizer before Joselu (76th minute) and Saifeldeen Fadlalla (81st minute) added more after Abdullah Marafee had opened scoring for Al Arabi in the 32nd minute. Al Gharafa now have 40 points in the standings while Al Arabi remained on 23 points.
Ahmed Alaaeldin almost gave Al Arabi the lead in the 22nd minute, but his header from the right side of the six-yard box following a corner went just inches wide, while Hilal Mohammed’s left-footed shot from outside the box following a set piece situation missed the intended target four minutes later.
After their relentless knocking on Al Gharafa’s door, The Dream Team eventually got the opener in the 32nd minute through Marafee, who went brilliantly past the entire Al Gharafa’s defence, following an overhead pass from Ahmed Alaaeldin, before firing home a right-footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.
The Cheetahs ensured that Al Arabi did not take the lead into the dugout as Brahimi got them the equalizer in the 45th minute with a fine curling shot from 20 yards out to ensure the spoils are even going into the break.
Al Gharafa almost took the lead four minutes on resumption with Joselu’s header from the centre of the box just missing narrowly.
Both sides continue to press for goals without success as the defensive lineups on both ends of the field refuse to budge, ensuring the continuation of the stalemate.
A lackadaisical defensive decision in the 76th minute allowed Joselu to give Al Gharafa the lead after he reacted quicker to a pass from Rabh Boussafi and netted from close range.
Things turned from bad to worse for Al Arabi in the 81st minute with Fadlalla giving goalkeeper Mohamed Saeed Ibrahim a red face after chipping the goalkeeper, who had gone embarrassingly out of his line following an Al Arabi free kick, from Al Gharafa’s half of the field in a goal reminiscent of what the famous Ronaldinho did against England at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, but this time not from a free kick.
The goal, arguably a goal-of-the-season contender, was the last major highlight of the highly entertaining encounter as Al Gharafa went home with their comfortable 3-1 victory.
