Qatar SC and Al Gharafa played out a highly-entertaining 4-4 draw in Week 1 of the 2023-2024 Expo Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday.

Bruno Tabata (sixth, 20th and 57th minutes) and Ben Malango (90+11 minute) were on target for Qatar SC.

Yohan Boli (35th minute), Ahmed Al Janehi (45+5 and 77th minutes), and Yacine Brahimi (90+6 minute) scored for Al Gharafa.

The match witnessed plenty of drama as Qatar SC twice gave up their lead, including a two-goal advantage, before drawing level just before the final whistle.

Matches between these two rivals have always been feisty.

Four minutes later, Qatar SC got into the lead through Tabata, whose right-footed shot from the centre of the box effortlessly sailed to the high center of the goal off a well-timed pass from Bashar Rasan following a fast break.

Youssef Safri’s team subsequently continued to pile pressure on their opponents after the opening goal and their efforts yielded the desired result in the 20th minute, with Tabata finding the target a second time.

With two goals down, Al Gharafa suddenly seemed to wake up from their slumber as they became more purposeful in attack, with more attempts at goals that were either blocked or narrowly missed.

The deficit was eventually cut for The Cheetahs in the 35th minute through Ivory Coast international Boli off a Brahimi assist. Brahimi’s through ball located the Ivorian, who wasted no time in firing a right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box to the centre of the goal.

Parity was restored with virtually the last kick of first half, with Farid Boulaya providing another through-ball assist to Al Janehi, who fired in a thundering right-footed shot from the centre of the box to make the match even.

Qatar SC made a double substitution at half-time, with Abdullah Abdulsalam coming in for Raoul Danzabe, while Ben Malango replaced Jassim Ahmed. Al Gharafa, on the other hand, sent in Nasser Al Ahrak in place of Abdullah Ali Saei.

In the 58th minute, Tabata hit his brace of the night with an assist from Omar Al Emadi to restore Qatar SC’s lead.

With the match seemingly heading the way of Qatar SC, Al Janehi shocked them by powering home Homam Al Ameen’s cross in the 77th minute to get on the scoresheet for the second time on the night and draw level for Al Gharafa.

Deep into injury time, Brahimi gave Al Gharafa the lead before Qatar SC’s Malango scored four minutes later to ensure the match ended even.