Al Gharafa defeated Ahal FC of Turkmenistan by a 2-0 margin in the second round of their 2022 AFC Champions League Group C at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah on Sunday.

Cheick Diabate (60th minute) and Ahmed Alaaeldin (87th minute) scored the goals as Al Gharafa moved on to four points, having held Iranian club Foolad Khouzestan to a goalless draw in their opener.

Ahal had played out a 1-1 draw with Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, the other team in Group C, in their opener.

Al Gharafa, having their first AFC Champions League campaign since 2018, are next up against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai on Thursday, 14th April.

The first half ended in a goalless draw despite Al Gharafa’s attempts to score.

Ahal also made bids to score, but in vain. Their story was the same in the second half as well.

Al Gharafa shot ahead on the hour mark through Malian striker Diabate, who headed in Homam Al Ameen’s cross from the left.

Ahmed Alaaeldin rounded off the tally by scoring late into the game off a pass from Ahmed Al Janehi.