An added-time equaliser from Kenji Gorre rescued a point for Umm Salal as they held Al Gharafa to a 1-1 draw in Week 20 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Sunday.

Gorre bagged the equaliser in 90+3 minute after Ferjani Sassi had given Al Gharafa the lead in the 65th minute.

With the result, Al Gharafa consolidated the second position in the standings with 41 points, while Umm Salal are eighth with 21 points.

Al Gharafa had the first real chance at goal of the highly-entertaining encounter in the seventh minute when Ahmed Alaaeldin’s right-footed shot narrowly grazed the upright on its way out after a timely set-up by Yacine Brahimi.

The narrow miss seemed to be the needed wake-up call for Umm Salal as they became more attack-minded from thereon, taking the battle to the gates of Al Gharafa with some exquisite game play.

The Orange Fortress had a penalty call in the 30th minute after Al Gharafa’s Lyanco Vojnovic, under pressure from Gorre, appeared to have handled the ball in the 18-yard box. But after a lengthy VAR check, the decision was rescinded.

Not giving up on their attacking drive, Umm Salal disappointedly missed a great chance at getting the opener in the 34th minute when Lucas Joao shot straight at goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar’s leg in a one-on-one situation.

Al Gharafa got a couple of unconverted chances of their own, including Brahimi’s low right-footed drive in the 41st minute that goalkeeper Landing Badji had to stretch to the maximum to parry out for a corner kick.

With a stalemated first half, all eyes were riveted on the concluding half of the match for the opener and the spectators needed not to wait too long as Al Gharafa bagged the first goal of the match through Sassi, who beautifully hammered home from 25 yards out in the 65th minute to the joy of the vociferous fans of The Cheetahs.

Expectedly, Umm Salal went straight for an equaliser and despite their several attempts, the defensive line of Al Gharafa proved unyielding as they curtailed all rampaging advances of their opponents.

When it seemed that Al Gharafa would be going home with the maximum points, a series of dramatic events in the dying minutes of the game changed the dynamics and it ended with Gorre scoring the equaliser in the third minute of added time, following a fast counter-attack, after Sassi had missed an opportunity to extend Al Gharafa’s lead, thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Badji.

Despite Al Gharafa’s late attempts at restoring their lead, Umm Salal stood firm and they were happy to end the match with the spoils evenly shared.