Al Sadd continue their fine form of the 2017/2018 season and continued their unbeaten run with a 2-1 win over Al Gharafa at Al Sadd Stadium on Friday evening. 

Al Sadd started the game on the front foot with good possession of the ball, however there was no real threat in front of goal. 

Midway through the first half, Al Gharafa started to come out and dominate more of the possession, the cheetahs got their reward in the 28th minute, when Vadimir Weiss was brought down in the box.  Luis Jimenez stepped up to take the pen and scored a great goal, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. 

The wolfs almost got back into the game when Hamroun Jugurtha had a bit of space at the edge of the box, however the forward delivered a low shot into the safe hands of Qasem Burhan. 

In the dying minutes of the first half, Al Gharafa almost got their second goal of the game through an individual effort from Othman Al Yahri, the midfielder received the ball at the half way and managed to dribble past 3 defenders, however the shot from the edge of the box didn't have the required power to trouble Al Sadds No.1 Saad Al Dosari.

There was a major turnaround at the start of the second half when Al Gharafa’s Ilyas Muhammad was sent off for a second bookable offence. Al Sadd took advantage of the extra man and got the equaliser in the 56th minute. Xavi played a beautiful through ball to Boualem Khoukhi, who cut in into his preferred left foot and scored with a beautiful finish.

The Wolves continued the pressure on Al Gharafa’s goal, and Xavi almost got on the scoresheet with a half volley from the edge of the box after a good team play, however the shot was too central to trouble the keeper. 

Al Sadd however, finally managed to break Al Gharafa’s defence and got their winning goal in 89th minute, when Morteza Mohammad scored a great header from a brilliant cross from Hassan Al Haydos. 

The game leaves Al Gharafa still looking for their first win over Al Sadd in 5 years, meanwhile the wolves remain unbeaten in the league and sharing the top spot with Al Duhail.