Leaders Al Sadd and contenders Al Gharafa played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in Week 16 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa Club on Wednesday.

The summit clash of the week, which delighted a large number of fans, also saw both teams suffer an own goal while trying to strongly defend.

While Al Sadd’s goals came from Seydou Sano (45+1 minute own goal) and Yusuf Abdurisag (80th minute), Al Gharafa got the goals from Ferjani Sassi (71st minute) and Boualem Khoukhi (82nd minute own goal).

The result saw Al Sadd’s tally go up by a point to 36 at the top of the rankings, while Al Gharafa slipped to third with 31 points shared with Al Rayyan, who moved into second spot on better goal difference.

In what was a keen battle and much as expected, The Wolves looked to attack from the word go, but were kept in check by The Cheetahs.

In the ninth minute, winger Akram Afif made a swift move from the left and unleashed a kick at the goal, but Al Gharafa custodian Khalifa Ababacar was alert and dived to make a good save. However, the ball rebounded in the front and Gonzalo Plata made an attempt again, but Ababacar was back at the task foiling the chance.

Both sides continued to battle hard, but a breakthrough was not in sight for long before Afif initiated a move sending a through pass to Plata, who sent in a fine cross for a sliding Bounedjah to make a connect, but Al Gharafa’s Sano also sliding alongside had his boot reach the ball first to net it into his own goal (1-0).

In the second session, The Cheetahs worked towards getting the equalizer as Al Sadd sandbagged in defence. In the 67th minute, Ahmed Alaaeldin made a good header, but it was staved off by Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb.

It, however, did not take long for Al Gharafa to hit back minutes later as a Yacine Brahimi corner kick was superbly headed in by Sassi (1-1).

The third goal of the match and Al Sadd’s second came after a midfield tussle, with substitutes Ali Asad and Abdurisag combining superbly. Abdurisag won the ball and passed it to Asad to his right before making an overlap as Asad beat defenders to then provide Abdurisag with an assist to score from the left (2-1).

The goal delighted both fans and players, who did a celebratory jig.

The setback saw Al Gharafa pick up pace as they tried to make forays. Their efforts bore fruits as minutes later Brahimi moved from the left sending the ball to Homam Al Ameen who made a fine centre even as six Al Sadd players ringed inside the ‘D’ and a frantic Khoukhi shadowing Alaeeldin kicked the ball into his own goal (2-2).

The remaining time saw both teams push harder, but could not succeed even as the fans cheered aloud enjoying the great club rivalry.