Shabab Al-Ahly defeats Al-Gharafa with a double…and enhances hopes of qualifying in the “Elite”

Shabab Al-Ahly achieved an important victory over its Qatari guest, Al-Gharafa, with two free goals, today, Monday, in the fifth round of the group stage of the AFC Champions League for elite clubs, raising the “Dubai Knights” score to 10 points in the ranking table and maintaining its great chances of qualifying for the round of 16, while Al-Gharafa’s score froze at 3 points.

Shabab Al-Ahly started the match with great pressure, and the advantage of control was translated into effect in the ninth minute when defender Quan Santos advanced the ball from the middle of the field before launching a powerful shot from outside the penalty area that shook Al-Gharafa’s net, announcing the first goal in a wonderful way.
Al-Gharafa tried to return to the match through a dangerous cross in the 23rd minute, which passed in front of the attackers and the goalkeeper without anyone touching it, leaving it next to the goal. Shabab Al-Ahly responded strongly, as player Bala succeeded in the 28th minute in scoring the second goal with a long-range shot in the same way as the first goal, making the score 2-0 and the first half ending with a deserved lead for the Emirati team after almost complete control over the course of the match.
In the second half, Shabab Al-Ahly continued to excel and dominate the ball, while relying on counterattacks. Al-Gharafa almost reduced the difference in the 70th minute through a dangerous header that passed near the post, before Shabab Al-Ahly defender Bogdan responded with a header in the 73rd minute, which the Al-Gharafa goalkeeper brilliantly blocked. The 75th minute witnessed another dangerous opportunity for Al Gharafa, which was cleared by defender Santos from the goal line after an attempt by Hamad Al Muqbali.
The remaining minutes did not change the outcome of the match despite the attempts of both teams, so the match ended with a 2-0 victory for Shabab Al-Ahly, taking a new step closer to qualifying for the next round of the Asian Championship.