Al Ahli secure late victory over Al Gharafa in AFC Champions League Elite

Al Ahli came from behind in the second half to beat Al Gharafa 2-1 and claim their second successive victory in the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.

The Saudi Arabian side took an early lead in the third round of the league phase, with Ivan Toney producing a composed finish in the fourth minute.

Eduard Spertsyan played the England forward through on goal and Toney lifted the ball over goalkeeper Ahmed Kone with a deft touch.

Al Gharafa attempted to respond, but Adam Ounas shot wide from a difficult angle in the 17th minute. Play was then briefly suspended after Al Ahli midfielder Mohamed Suleiman suffered an injury, with the match restarting in the 20th minute.

Hassan Alaaeldin tested Al Ahli from more than 35 yards in the 25th minute, but his effort went wide of the right post. Toney was booked four minutes later, before a drinks break interrupted the game in the 31st minute.

Al Gharafa goalkeeper Abderrahman Al-Sanbi saved from Florinel Coman’s long-range effort in the 38th minute. Hassan Alaaeldin was unable to continue after sustaining an injury and was replaced by Yacine Brahimi in the 43rd minute.

Al Ahli nearly extended their advantage during six minutes of first-half stoppage time. Spertsyan fired over in the 45th minute, while Al Gharafa’s defence blocked another attempt from Toney three minutes later.

Trincao then struck the right post with a left-footed shot from inside the penalty area after receiving the ball from Toney. Ziyad Al-Jehani also sent an effort wide in the sixth minute of added time, leaving Al Ahli 1-0 ahead at the interval.

Al Gharafa made a change at half-time, bringing on Ayoub Al-Aini for Ryan Ahmed Al Ali, and began the second half on the front foot.

Coman saw a shot blocked in the 47th minute, while Ferjani Sassi headed wide from a corner. Brahimi then missed the target from outside the area before Ounas sent another effort wide in the 52nd minute following a pass from Coman.

The pressure eventually produced an equaliser in the 53rd minute. Coman collected a pass from Saifeddine Fadhlallah and fired into the net.

Al Gharafa were reduced to 10 players in the 77th minute when Sano received a second yellow card for a foul. The dismissal followed a stoppage caused by his injury a minute earlier.

Dame Traore replaced Ounas in the 79th minute, while Firas Al-Buraikan headed wide for Al Ahli after a cross from Matheus Goncalves following a set-piece.

Al Ahli continued to press late on and regained the lead when Goncalves struck from outside the penalty area, sending the ball into the net to settle the contest.

The result moved Al Ahli to seven points and temporarily into second place. Al Gharafa suffered their third defeat and remain 18th without a point.