A late dramatic penalty saw Al Gharafa escape with a deserving come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Qatar SC in Week 12 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Wednesday.

In the added time, a charging and all in the clear Homam Al Ameen was brought down just inside the ‘D’ as Qatar SC goalkeeper Sataa Al Abbasi tried to grab the ball with both his hands, but could not hold on to the ball, before a rushing-in Ahmed Alaaeldin too was felled by the goalkeeper and the referee called for the penalty.

The Cheetahs captain Yacine Brahimi (also the top scorer in the league thus far) struck from the spot to fetch his 14th goal of the season and his team’s eighth win - after their 1-1 draw in the previous round against Al Shamal.

While Ben Malango had earlier scored Qatar SC’s only goal in the sixth minute, Ahmed Al Janahi (49th minute) and Brahimi (90+5 minute-penalty) did so for Al Gharafa.

The result took Al Gharafa’s tally to 27 points, while Qatar SC remained on 12 points following their third loss of the season.

Qatar SC had begun on a great note, with Malango striking from well outside the box after Bruno Tabata had provided a fine angular pass. The side also did very well to hold on to their lead through the opening half with some good defence.

The Cheetahs were left looking hapless till then, more so after they missed two close chances when in the 25th minute an Al Janahi kick was cut off by Qatar SC goalkeeper Sataa Al Abbasi, and in the 34th minute when Yohan Boli’s header went just wide of the right post.

Al Gharafa eventually hit back soon on resumption of play in the second session. The move came off a counter, with Abdullah Yousef putting through a long ball down the right which a sprinting Al Janahi did well to get to and swerved right to beat an advancing Al Abbasi far outside the box. Al Janahi then drove the ball into the far left corner even as a frantic Abdulrahman Al Korbi of Qatar SC slided in but in vain.

The equalizer put a spring in the steps of Al Gharafa players who now moved into the attack mode. They tried to break in from both sides, but Qatar SC were successful in keeping the rivals at bay. But just only till the injury time when a second defensive lapse put paid to their hopes.