Al Gharafa Vs Al Wahda Player Ratings as Seydou Sano's Late Winner Seals 1-0 Victory

The AFC Champions League elite game between Al Gharafa and Al Wahda had absolutely everything. We saw missed penalties, red cards and last-minute heroics. The first half was a cagey and tense affair, with both sides failing to find a breakthrough.

In the second half Al Wahda goalkeeper Mohamed Al Shamsi, had made a complete blunder. He conceded a penalty and received a straight red card in the 53rd minute. But the drama didn't stop there. Yacine Brahimi stepped up for Al Gharafa and shockingly smashed his spot-kick against the crossbar.

Just moments later, Al Gharafa's own Dame Traore received a second yellow card, leveling the playing field to ten men apiece. However, Defender Seydou Sano had other ideas, becoming the unlikely hero. He scored the late winner in the 87th minute to secure a 1-0 win for the home side in a truly wild game.

Here are Al Gharafa Vs Al Wahda Player Ratings

Al Gharafa Player Ratings vs Al Wahda

Here are the Al Gharafa Player Ratings vs Al Wahda

Goalkeeper

Khalifa Ababacar - 6.5: Had a fairly quiet night for the most part. He made one crucial save inside the box which was vital. His distribution with long balls was a bit erratic, losing possession more than he'd like. Picked up a yellow card but ultimately kept a clean sheet which is the main job.

Defenders

Dame Traore - 4.0: A disastrous performance that nearly cost his team. He looked clumsy from the start and his foul for the first yellow was unnecessary. Getting sent off for a second yellow just after his team gained a man advantage was unforgivable. He put his teammates under immense pressure for no reason.

Ayoub Al-Oui - 6.0: A very busy night for the defender. He worked tirelessly and made a few important tackles and clearances. However, he struggled in his duels, winning only 6 out of 14. He seemed a bit overwhelmed at times but stuck to his task.

Saifeldeen Fadlalla - 7.0: A solid and composed display. We noticed he was reliable in possession, rarely giving the ball away cheaply. He handled his defensive duties well and even contributed to the attack with a couple of decent crosses. A dependable performance when his team needed it.

Seydou Sano - 8.5: The hero of the hour and our man of the match. What stood out to us was his constant threat from set-pieces, which finally paid off with the winning goal. Beyond his goal, he was a rock at the back, making tackles and distributing the ball effectively from deep. A complete and match-winning performance.

Midfielders

Yacine Brahimi - 6.0: A deeply frustrating night for the captain. He was the creative hub, creating an incredible six chances for his teammates. However, his own finishing was poor, and the missed penalty was a shocking moment that could have been costly. He was involved in everything good, but the lack of a final product was glaring.

Álvaro Djaló - 7.5: A livewire throughout his time on the pitch. His energy and direct running caused problems for the Al Wahda defence. He created a big chance and wasn't afraid to have a go from distance. We were surprised to see him subbed off as he looked like one of the most likely to make something happen.

Aron Gunnarsson - 8.0: A classic midfield general's performance. He was immense in the middle, breaking up play and dominating his aerial duels. He capped off a great display with the clever assist for Sano's winner. His experience and calming presence were vital, especially after the two red cards.

Fabricio Díaz - 6.5: A typically combative display from the midfielder. He was everywhere, getting stuck into tackles and winning a good number of his duels. While his shooting was wayward, his work rate and desire to recover the ball were impressive. He kept the midfield battle competitive.

Jamal Hamed - 5.5: A quiet and ineffective first half. He struggled to get involved in the game and make any sort of impact. It wasn't a surprise to see him hooked at halftime. A forgettable outing.

Forwards

Florinel Coman - 7.0: He was a real handful before being substituted. He was desperately unlucky not to score, striking the woodwork with a close-range effort. Crucially, his clever movement won the penalty. It was a shame his night ended early as he looked very dangerous.

Substitutes

Amro Surag, Joselu, Rabeh Boussafi, Rayyan Al Ali - 6.0: The substitutes came on to provide fresh energy and see the game out. Joselu had a couple of blocked shots, but none of them had a major impact on the result. They did their jobs without any fuss as Al Gharafa held on for the win.

Manager

Manager - 7.0: His team secured a vital win in chaotic circumstances. The decision to bring on subs to manage the game after the goal was the right one. His side showed great character to win after missing a penalty and going down to ten men. A stressful but ultimately successful night's work.

Al Wahda Player Ratings vs Al Gharafa

Here are the Al Wahda Player Ratings vs Al Gharafa

Goalkeeper

Mohamed Al-Shamsi - 3.0: The worst performer on the pitch by a mile. From our perspective, his red card was a moment of sheer panic and terrible judgment. To concede a penalty and get sent off in one motion is a cardinal sin for a goalkeeper. He completely abandoned his team and is the main reason they lost.

Defenders

Lucas Pimenta - 6.5: He had a very busy night, making a high volume of clearances and blocks. He battled hard but was part of a defence that couldn't handle the decisive corner kick. He also missed a big chance to score himself, which could have changed the game.

Rúben Amaral - 6.5: A solid defensive shift. What stood out was his perfect tackle success rate, winning the ball cleanly every time he went to ground. He was positionally sound but offered little going forward. A decent, no-frills performance.

Sasa Ivkovic - 7.5: Al Wahda's best player on the night. He was a colossal presence at the back, throwing his body in the way of everything. He made six clearances and three crucial blocked shots, including one off the line. It's hard to ask for more from a central defender.

Guga - 6.5: A reliable if unspectacular performance at full-back. He was strong in his duels and won his tackles effectively. He kept his flank secure for the most part but didn't provide much of an attacking outlet.

Midfielders

Facundo Kruspzky - 7.0: A real engine in the midfield. We were impressed by his tenacity, winning nine duels and recovering the ball eight times. He drove his team forward with some powerful runs. A very positive and energetic display before he was substituted.

Abdulla Hamad - 6.5: He kept possession ticking over nicely in the heart of midfield. He battled hard and won a majority of his tackles. However, he was dribbled past a few too many times, which put his defence under pressure.

Jadsom - 6.0: An tidy performance without much impact. He was safe on the ball and had a high pass accuracy. However, he failed to provide any key passes or create chances before being taken off.

Brahima Diarra - 5.5: A really poor showing. He was a passenger for much of the game, losing possession far too often and struggling to get involved. He lost most of his duels and looked off the pace before his substitution.

Forwards

Caio Canedo - 6.5: Had a few bright moments but was largely anonymous. He worked hard off the ball, making four recoveries. But as a forward, he failed to register a significant goal attempt or create a clear chance for his team.

Dušan Tadić - 7.0: He was the creative spark for his team, as expected. He created two big chances and was always looking to make things happen. However, he also lost the ball over 20 times and his frustration was evident, leading to a yellow card.

Substitutes

Zayed Ahmed, Mohammad Ghorbani, Darko Lazovic, Omar Khrbin - 6.0: The manager threw them on to find an equalizer, but they couldn't provide the spark. They huffed and puffed in the final stages but failed to create a golden opportunity to level the score. A case of too little, too late.

Manager

J. Ferreira de Morais - 6.0: His game plan went out the window with his goalkeeper's red card. His team responded well to the setback but lacked the cutting edge to punish Al Gharafa's own red card. His substitutions failed to change the course of the match, and his side ultimately fell short.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Seydou Sano