AFC Champions League Elite
The last gasp win moved Al Gharafa to six points with two matches remaining while UAE’s Al Wahda, who suffered their first defeat of the season, remained on 13.
Al Wahda, already assured of their Round of 16 berth, came into the tie seeking to maintain their momentum, while Al Gharafa needed victory to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
Caio Canedo sounded the alarm in the 12th minute when he teased Al Qharafa keeper Khalifa Ababacar with a glancing header from inside the box off Ruben Canedo’s cross.
Al Gharafa stayed firm a minute later to deny Lucas Pimenta’s header at the far post after Dusan Tadic had set him up with a cross, which was dealt with by Aron Gunnarsson.
The home side came close to taking the lead in the 39th minute but Florinel Coman’s effort was denied by the bar, with Facundo Kruspzky then scrambling to clear the ball off the line.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock with Abdulla Hamad sending his shot from distance wide while Coman missed with his attempt from the edge of the six-yard-box.
Yacine Brahimi almost caused problems for Al Wahda two minutes into the restart after the Algerian threaded a neat pass to Alvaro Djalo, whose heavy first touch sent his volley just over the bar.
Things then took a turn for the worse for Al Wahda in the 53rd minute after keeper Mohamed Al Shamsi was shown the red card for a foul on Coman, who had a clear path on goal but Brahimi wasted the chance to put Al Gharafa in front after striking the bar from the penalty spot.
Al Gharafa were themselves reduced to 10 men just before the hour mark after Dame Traore picked up his second yellow card for a wild tackle on Guga.
Pedro Martins sent Joselu into the mix and it almost paid off in the 77th minute when Alvaro Djalo cut the ball into the box for the Spaniard, who saw his close range effort cleared off the line by Sasa Ivkovic.
The goal finally arrived for the Qatari side 10 minutes later off a corner when Sano struck from inside the box after Joselu directed the ball to Gunnarsson, who set the Senegalese up nicely for the winner.
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