Joselu scored the only goal as Al Gharafa beat Umm Salal 1-0 in Week 18 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Friday.

Joselu’s goal came in 45+3 minute as Al Gharafa extended their points tally to 37 points, while Umm Salal remained on 15 points.

Umm Salal had the first attempt of the match, with Antonio Mance missing a right-footed shot from the right side of the box in the third minute of play.

A beautiful attempt from the centre of the box in the 13th minute by Al Gharafa’s Amro Surag was also coolly saved by goalkeeper Landing Badji as the pressure intensified on both sides.

Mance almost gave Umm Salal the opening goal in the 31st minute when he linked up perfectly with a precise pass by Ali Said, but his well-placed shot went just inches off the target.

With the match seemingly heading for a goalless first half, Al Gharafa changed the narrative in three minutes of added time through Joselu who beat Umm Salal’s offside trap to finish off an overhead pass by Ferjani Sassi.

The Cheetahs thought they had doubled the lead two minutes later through Rabeh Boussafi, but a VAR check later chalked off the goal to ensure the first half ended with the lone goal in favour of Al Gharafa.

Al Gharafa continued to press hard against The Orange Fortress in the second half and their efforts seemed to have further paid off in the 58th minute, with Yacine Brahimi hitting the bull’s eye, assisted by Ferjani Sassi, until another VAR check overturned the outcome due to a foul on Fabrizio Diaz prior to the goal.

Al Gharafa endured another frustration in the 74th minute with the crossbar preventing Joselu’s header from widening the gap for Al Gharafa after a decent cross from Brahimi.

Both sides continued their search for goals, but none succeeded in changing the fortunes of the game as it ended in the lone-goal victory for Al Gharafa.