Al-Ahly Youth bids farewell to the “AFC Champions League”

Tunisian international Ferjani Sassi’s header gave his Qatari team Al-Gharafa a 1-0 victory over its guest Shabab Al-Ahli in the match that brought them together yesterday at Al-Bayt Stadium, in the second preliminary round qualifying for the AFC Champions League for the elite, thus Al-Gharafa secured a ticket to qualify for the group stage of the tournament, which is being held under the new system for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, Al-Ahly youth will participate in the “AFC Champions League 2” according to the new system.

The match started quickly from both teams, but Al Gharafa was able to surprise Shabab Al Ahli’s defense in the fifth minute after a cross that the Spaniard Joselu rose to head, but it hit the crossbar and rebounded towards the Tunisian international Ferjani Sassi, who shot it powerfully, and Shabab Al Ahli goalkeeper Hassan Hamza succeeded in clearing it before it reached Joselu again, who shot it into the net, but the referee disallowed the goal due to offside.

Hassan Hamza shone again in the 12th minute by blocking a powerful shot from Uruguayan player Fabricio Diaz from the edge of the penalty area.

Al-Ahli youth continued to spread and control the ball, but without posing any danger to Al-Gharafa’s goal, except for Bruno’s header, which was blocked by Al-Gharafa goalkeeper Khalifa Abu Bakr, so the first half ended in a goalless draw.

In the 50th minute, Al Gharafa succeeded in opening the scoring from a cross that Ferjani Sassi rose to and headed to the left of goalkeeper Hassan Hamza, announcing Al Gharafa’s first goal.

Al-Ahli youth tried to make a quick comeback with a dangerous shot by Bruno from the edge of the penalty area, which was successfully blocked by goalkeeper Khalifa Abu Bakr, so Al-Ahli youth continued to be dangerous and substitute Sardar Azmoun wasted the opportunity to equalize in the 58th minute after several shots that Al-Gharafa goalkeeper brilliantly blocked.

Al-Ahli youth players collided with the solid defenses of the opponent despite the dangerous attempts of Yahya Al-Ghassani, Bala and Sardar, so Al-Gharafa succeeded in defending its only goal and ending the match in its favor with a goal without a response.