Qatar’s Gharafa advance after draw with Ahli

JUBILANT: Qatar’s Al-Gharafa players celebrate after scoring a goal against KSA’s Al-Ahli during their AFC Champions League football match in the Qatari capital. (AFP)

Agencies/DohaSaudi Arabia’s Al Ahli confirmed themselves as winners of Group C of the 2013 AFC Champions League yesterday as Aleksander Ilic’s side twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Qatar’s Al Gharafa, who also progress to the Round of 16.Last year’s beaten finalists dropped their first points of the 2013 campaign after having won their first four group matches, but the draw still means Al Ahli cannot be surpassed by Al Gharafa due to having a better head-to-head record.Brazilian attacking-midfielder Alex (Alex Raphael Meschini) gave Al Gharafa the lead only for Amad al-Hosni to level for Al Ahli, but Djibril Cisse put the Qatar Stars League side back in front from the penalty spot before Jairo Palomino equalised for the Saudi club.The draw moves Al Gharafa on to 10 points and they are guaranteed a second place finish in the group as they cannot be passed by former finalists Sepahan.Al Gharafa took the lead in the 24th minute when good work by Nene (Anderson Luiz de Carvalho) on the edge of the area set up Alex to score with an exquisite left-footed effort from 20 yards out that found the bottom corner of Abdullah Al Muaiouf’s goal.Five minutes later, Bruno Cesar’s free kick from just outside the area curled over the home side’s defensive wall but was just wide.The Brazilian, though, was to turn creator two minutes later as Al Ahli pulled level when his cross from the right corner of the penalty area was met by Al Hosni as he pulled away from his marker before heading beyond Qasem Burhan.With 11 minutes remaining in the half, Bruno Cesar was again causing problems for the home defence, only this time Burhan was equal to the Brazilian’s long-range effort, pushing the ball over the bar.Nine minutes into the second half, however, Al Gharafa were back in front as Cisse stepped up to convert form the penalty spot for his fifth goal of the competition after Kamil al-Mousa was judged to have handled Nene’s attempted cross.But the Qatari side’s lead only lasted until the 68th minute, and Bruno Cesar was involved once again as it was his corner that was flicked on at the near post by Victor Simoes and Colombian defender Palomino dived in to head home at the far post and secure a share of the points for Al Ahli.Meanwhile Al Rayyan crashed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Iran’s Estheglal in Tehran.