From Dubai to Knockouts: Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Sparks Asian Dream with 2-0 Win over Al-Gharafa
24 November 2025
Match Overview
Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai secured a 2-0 home win against Al-Gharafa at Rashid Stadium in Dubai on Monday, in the fifth round of the AFC Champions League Elite West 2025-2026.
The goals came from Kwan Santos in the 9th minute and Joilherme Bala in the 27th, lifting the Emirati side to 10 points and a firm hold on fifth place, while Al-Gharafa remained on three points in ninth.
Key Moments
Shabab Al-Ahli started with sustained pressure, forcing Al-Gharafa back early and taking a well-deserved lead in the 9th minute via a precise grounded finish from Santos.
Al-Gharafa had opportunities to level, but the hosts’ defense stood firm as Al-Gharafa failed to convert a dangerous cross in the 22nd minute. Bala then doubled the advantage in the 27th minute with a finish echoing the first goal’s style.
Hamad Al-Moqabi, the home keeper, produced a crucial save in the 31st minute to deny a direct effort from Al-Gharafa, while Jamal Hamad’s header glanced past the left post just before halftime.
In the second half, Al-Gharafa pressed for a lifeline, but Shabab Al-Ahli countered with measured counter-attacks. Yuri Cesar tested the goalkeeper in the 59th minute, hitting the right post and forcing a corner, as the visitors pushed harder for a goal that never arrived.
Montari and Khalifa Abu Bakr were among the goalkeeper’s notable stops for Al-Gharafa in the 70s and 73rd minutes, but the hosts remained in control, sealing the result and moving closer to the knockout stage.
The teams’ campaigns to date show Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai drawing with Tractor (1-1) in Dubai, beating Al-Ittihad (1-0) in Jeddah, routing Nasaf (4-1) in Dubai, and suffering a setback against Al-Duhail (1-4) in Doha. Al-Gharafa had splits of results, including a loss to Sharjah (3-4) in Sharjah and a win over Police (2-0), with a later loss to Al-Ahli (0-4) in Jeddah and a 1-2 defeat to Al Hilal in Doha.
Next up, the sixth round is slated for December 22-23, with matches including Sharjah vs. Al Hilal, Tractor vs. Duhail, Al Gharafa vs. Al Wahda, and Al Ahli Saudi facing other sides in a tightly contested Western group.
Each side will play eight group-stage matches, with the top eight from the West advancing to the Round of 16 in March 2026. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will be held in a single-site format in Saudi Arabia in April 2026.
Last season’s AFC Champions League Elite winner was Al-Ahli Saudi, clinching the title for the first time in its history.
Punchline time: If precision were a gun, Santos and Bala just unloaded a two-shot combo—quiet, efficient, and somehow the goalkeeper forgot his gloves. Sniper-grade finish, with a side of sarcasm.
Punchline 2: Football isn’t just a game of inches; sometimes it’s a game of inches and perfectly placed shots—talk about driving a net-ward bullet, with a laugh track from the bench.
