A red card for goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar and a late stoppage-time goal saw Sharjah FC prevail 4-3 over 10-man Al Gharafa in Round 1 of 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite at the Sharjah Stadium on Monday, September 15, 2025.

Al Gharafa led 2-0 at half-time, but the hosts rallied to first equalize at 2-2 before some late turn of events cost The Cheetahs dear. Ababacar was shown the red card for tackling rival player Rey Manaj at the top of the box while the side was penalized with a spot kick in the 86th minute.

Earlier, Yacine Brahimi (33rd minute penalty) and Joselu (45+4 minute and 73rd minute penalty) had scored for Al Gharafa.

For Sharjah FC, Rey Manaj (60th minute and 90+1 minute), Ousmane Camara (62nd minute) and Igor Coronado (90+10 minute) were the goal getters.

Coronado flicked in the last-gasp goal, just seconds before the end of added time  and past Al Gharafa’s substitute goalkeeper Lecomte Amine from inside the box after receiving an assist from Camara.