Jeddah, October 26 (QNA) - Al Gharafa SC have suffered a 2-1 defeat to Al Ahli Saudi FC in their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 tie on Monday.

Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli moved up to seven points while Al Gharafa of Qatar suffered a third consecutive defeat, the AFC website reported. 

Al Ahli looked to catch Al Gharafa off guard as early as the third minute, with Roger Ibanez sending a deep ball forward for Ivan Toney, who was caught offside.

The two-time champions, however, found the way through a minute later when Eduard Spertsyan played a teasing through ball for Toney to clip over Al Gharafa goalkeeper Ahmed Kone.

Al Gharafa sought a response, with Adam Ounas setting up Alaa Eddin Hasan inside the area but the forward's attempt to wriggle his way through the Al Ahli defence fell flat.

Al Ahli came close to doubling their lead in the 37th minute when Toney sent a delightful ball into the box that evaded Seydou Sano, only for Kone to rush off his line and gather before Saad Yaslam could reach it.

The game opened up in stoppage time with Spertsyan firing over the bar after being played through by Artem Bondarenko, while Ounas was unable to capitalise after dispossessing Bondarenko on the right flank.

Toney then laid the ball nicely for Trincao, whose shot struck the right post, before Ziyad Al Johani sent the rebound just wide of the left post.

Al Gharafa broke through to draw level in the 53rd minute with Yacine Brahimi sparking the move through the middle, surging past Bondarenko before playing in Saif Eldeen Fadlalla, who cut the ball back for Florinel Coman to finish with aplomb.

The Qatari side took confidence from the equaliser and began to build momentum, with Brahimi proving to be a handful for Al Ahli, sending his long-range effort over the bar in the 57th minute before coming close again from inside the box in the 66th minute.

The game shifted balance 10 minutes later when Sano received his marching orders after picking up his second yellow card, with Al Ahli capitalising on their numerical advantage in the 86th minute.

Goncalves, collecting Al Johani's cross from the right, curled in a superb finish into the bottom left corner to seal the three points for his side. (QNA)