Al Gharafa scored a 4-2 win over Al Shahania in a strong contest in Week 11 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium of Qatar SC on Sunday, December 8, 2024.

The thrilling win saw The Cheetahs remain in the top four of standings with 21 points, while Al Shahania slid to eighth with 11 points to their credit.

The disparity in their placing notwithstanding, both teams dished out a super battle with Al Gharafa going up the lead early in the first half. A tense fight ensued in the second half with five goals being scored including an own goal for Al Shahania. The stoppage time play also saw a goal each for both sides.

The goals for Al Gharafa came from Florinel Coman (19th minute), Marc Muniesa (66th minute, own goal), Ferjani Sassi (70th minute & 90+4 minute). Al Shahania scored through Pelle van Amersfoort (76th minute) and Lotfi Majder (90+2 minute).

Al Gharafa looked for an early breakthrough and in the 11th minute came close when a Rabeh Yahia Boussafi cross was headed by Joselu but Al Shahania goalkeeper Shehab Ellethy dived to his left to make a fine save.

Al Gharafa, however, succeeded soon, with an unmarked Coman on the left deflecting in a corner kick.

Al Gharafa’s lead would have been doubled in the 34th minute when a telling Yacine Brahimi strike was cut off by a diving Ellethy, this time to his right.

Al Shahania also had a fair share of attack and just before half-time Van Amersfoort struck hard at the goal, but Al Gharafa’s tall goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar stood like a rock to collect it.

In added time, Al Shahania made more forays and again Ababacar made a good save by diving long to his left.

After the break, in the 55th minute a Brahimi attempt was foiled by Al Shahania goalkeeper.

Eleven minutes later, Al Shahania suffered a blow as a frantic attempt from Muniesa saw him head a corner kick from the left into his own goal.

Brahimi soon returned to big action as he lobbed a cross to Joselu, who headed it to a waiting Sassi to make another header and score (3-0).

Al Shahania’s repeated attack attempts soon reaped dividends for them as a Van Amersfoort header off a corner kick found its way into the net (1-3).

Adding to Al Shahania’s excitement was a wonderful goal from Majder in stoppage time from the top of the box that went straight into the far corner (2-3).

Al Shahania now hoped for an equalizer in the remaining time, but their hopes were dashed as Brahimi and Sassi combined again as the former made a lob from the left and the latter made a successful header (4-2).

In the dying moments, Joselu again came close to scoring, but failed to go past a lone goalkeeper. However, Al Gharafa rejoiced all the same with the victory.