Alkass Digital
Al Gharafa beat Qatar SC 3-1 in Week 5 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday.
While Ahmed Al Janahi (10th minute), Yacine Brahimi (30th minute penalty) and Joselu (72nd minute) scored for The Cheetahs, the lone goal for Qatar SC was scored by Sebastian Soria (41st minute).
Their second win of the league championship saw Al Gharafa move into the top four with a tally of eight points (ahead of Al Wakrah on goal difference) whereas Qatar SC remained on three points in 11th place.
Al Gharafa struck early when Brahimi broke past the defence, but his stinging shot was stopped by a diving Qatar SC goalkeeper Motasem Majed Albustami. The ball, however, on rebound found Al Janahi at hand to strike again.
Qatar SC tried to regroup, but in the 23rd minute Ahmed Radwan shot wide after receiving a good pass from Soria.
The Cheetahs hit back and now with more speed and teeth to their attack. In the 25th minute, a spectacular curling kick of Ferjani Sassi was well-blocked by a rising Albustami.
A minute later, the goalkeeper managed to keep a powerful Florinel Coman shot away.
Al Gharafa, however, kept attacking and Qatar SC in a frantic defence action erred as Khaled Ahmed Mahmoudi felled Coman inside the danger area and the referee called for the penalty. Brahimi stepped up and swung the kick into the left corner to make it 2-0 for his side.
Qatar SC tried to find their way back into the game and found success soon before half-time as Soria made a fine move to break into ‘D’ and collect a fine Badr Benoun pass to flick the ball over an advancing goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar’s head (1-2).
In the second half, Qatar SC tried hard to find an equalizer, but a potential Ben Malango header sailed just over the crossbar on the hour mark.
Soon, Joselu volleyed in a cross from Al Janahi to shock Qatar SC with his side’s third goal.
Though Qatar SC kept trying harder, they could not find success despite many close chances.
In the 11 minutes of stoppage time, both sides came close to scoring, but the two goalkeepers made a brilliant save each to deny the rivals.