AFC Champions League Elite Gameweek 1, West
Sharjah FC 4 - 3 FT Al-Gharafa
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Futmetrix Verdict
72
FT
Tue, Oct 27
Beijing Guoan
2-2
Jeonbuk Motors
⚡ Intensity
50
⚖️ Balance
80
🏆 Stakes
50
🎲 Upset
40
A lead traded, neither blinked
Futmetrix Verdict
93
FT
Tue, Oct 27
Kyoto Sanga
5-2
Newcastle Jets
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
94
🏆 Stakes
50
🎲 Upset
0
Five goals turned Kyoto's two-goal hole
Futmetrix Verdict
91
FT
Mon, Oct 26
Galatasaray
2-1
Fenerbahçe
⚡ Intensity
60
⚖️ Balance
32
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
0
Osimhen's brace settles the Istanbul derby
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
20' ↓ Luan Pereira ↑A. Taarabt
Aron Gunnarsson 24'
Yacine Brahimi 31'
Y. Brahimi 33'
43' ↓ M. Meloni ↑O. Camara
44' ↓ Cho Yu-Min ↑Igor Coronado
Joselu (Y. Brahimi) 45'
HT
46' ↓ G. Poblete ↑H. Ibrahim
60' R. Manaj
62' O. Camara
63' Harun Ibrahim
↓ F. Coman ↑A. Djalo 63'
Joselu 73'
↓ A. Gunnarsson ↑A. Al Oui 74'
79' ↓ Sharjah FC ↑F. Ben Larbi
Khalifa Ababacar 85'
Khalifa Ababacar 86'
90' R. Manaj
90' Igor Coronado (O. Camara)
↓ M. Holgate ↑C. Lecomte 90'
↓ Y. Brahimi ↑D. Traore 90'
90'+3 Feta Fetai
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sharjah FC
Goalkeepers
Darwish Mohammad 
SIEVE
0%
Save %
0%
Save %
3
Conceded
0
Saves
Defenders
Maro Katinic 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cho Yu-min
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
44
Total Mins
44
Entry
Midfielders
S. Abdulrahman
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Khaled Ebraheim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Geronimo Poblete 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
5.9
Rating
Feta Fetai 
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Vladimir Prijovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Marcus Meloni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
43
Total Mins
43
Entry
Rey Manaj 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.3
Rating
Luan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
20
Entry
BENCH
Majid Surour
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Firas Ben Arbi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Harun Ibrahim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adel Taarabt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Igor Coronado
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.9
Rating
Ousmane Camara 
SUPER SUB
1
G + A
1
G + A
47
Minutes
8.9
Rating
A. Zaal
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Saleh
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Ghanim
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Biro
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Petrovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Saeed
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Al-Gharafa
Defenders
Mason Holgate 
SUNDAY LEAGUER
5.9
Rating
5.9
Rating
6
Duels Lost
25
Poss Lost
Jang Hyun-soo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Seydou Sano
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
5.7
Rating
Saifeldeen Fadlalla 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
A. B. Khalifa
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aron Gunnarsson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Florinel Coman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
Fabricio Díaz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ferjani Sassi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yacine Brahimi 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Forwards
Joselu 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
8.6
Rating
BENCH
Hamad Kahiout 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Amine Lecomte 
PENALTY HERO
1
Pens Saved
1
Pens Saved
0
Saves
6.3
Rating
Dame Traoré
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hamid Ismaeil
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chalpan Abdulnasir
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rayyan Al Ali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohammed Muntari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álvaro Djaló
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jamal Mayor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Al Oui
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Essam
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Boussafi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
League Standings
| Pos | Team | P | Pts | GF | GA | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Ahli Jeddah | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | +2 | WAl-Ahli Jeddah 4 - 2 Nasaf (15-09-2025) |
| 2 | Sharjah FC | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | +1 | WSharjah FC 4 - 3 Al-Gharafa (15-09-2025) |
| 3 | Al Wahda FC | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | +1 | WAl Wahda FC 2 - 1 Al-Ittihad FC (15-09-2025) |
| 4 | Al-Hilal Saudi FC | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | +1 | WAl-Hilal Saudi FC 2 - 1 Al-Duhail SC (16-09-2025) |
| 5 | Tractor Sazi | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | DShabab Al Ahli Dubai 1 - 1 Tractor Sazi (16-09-2025) |
| 6 | Shabab Al Ahli Dubai | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | DShabab Al Ahli Dubai 1 - 1 Tractor Sazi (16-09-2025) |
| 7 | Al Sadd | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | DAl Shorta 1 - 1 Al Sadd (15-09-2025) |
| 8 | Al Shorta | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | DAl Shorta 1 - 1 Al Sadd (15-09-2025) |
| 9 | Al-Gharafa | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | -1 | LSharjah FC 4 - 3 Al-Gharafa (15-09-2025) |
| 10 | Al-Duhail SC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | LAl-Hilal Saudi FC 2 - 1 Al-Duhail SC (16-09-2025) |
| 11 | Al-Ittihad FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | LAl Wahda FC 2 - 1 Al-Ittihad FC (15-09-2025) |
| 12 | Nasaf | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -2 | LAl-Ahli Jeddah 4 - 2 Nasaf (15-09-2025) |
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Sharjah FC
Al-Gharafa
Sharjah FC
Al-Gharafa
Seven-Goal Spectacle at Sharjah Stadium
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. A chaotic AFC Champions League encounter saw Sharjah FC edge a seven-goal thriller against a resilient ten-man Al-Gharafa in a match defined by clinical attacking play.
The High-Octane Opening
The atmosphere at Sharjah Stadium was electric as two sides desperate for continental momentum collided in a high-scoring frenzy. From the outset, Sharjah FC edged possession with 53%, utilizing a crisp passing game that saw them complete 87% of their 375 attempts. This wasn't just lateral movement; it was purposeful penetration. An Intensity rating of 10.8 was immediately apparent as the back-and-forth nature of the contest defied the pre-match expectations. Both defensive lines struggled to contain the rapid transitions, resulting in a goal festival that kept the home crowd roaring. The home side looked to exploit the wide areas effectively, delivering 14 crosses into the box to test a nervous away defense that appeared vulnerable to the high tempo established by the Emirati hosts.
The Numerical Shift
The structural Balance of the match shifted dramatically when Al-Gharafa was reduced to ten men following a costly red card. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Qatari visitors refused to retreat into a low block, contributing to a narrative where seven strikes hit the net. While the visitors managed only 6 total shots throughout the match, their efficiency in front of goal ensured they remained a threat until the final seconds. However, the pressure from the Sharjah frontline eventually told. With four big chances created, the home side forced the Al-Gharafa goalkeeper into three vital saves. Even those heroics could not stem the tide of a relentless offensive barrage that saw seven of Sharjah's nine shots hit the target, maintaining a pressure that the ten-man visitors simply couldn't withstand forever.
Resolution and Continental Implications
As the clock ticked down at Sharjah Stadium, the Stakes of the AFC Champions League became palpable in every challenge. A 4-3 victory for Sharjah FC provides a massive psychological boost, helping them navigate their way through a difficult group stage. For Al-Gharafa, the narrow loss leaves them with much to ponder, reflecting a difficult campaign where they have now suffered five defeats in seven outings. Despite an Upset Factor of 0.0 suggesting the result followed the statistical probability, the manner of the victory was anything but predictable. The home side’s ability to convert their dominance into a winning scoreline was the difference, while the visitors will rue the disciplinary lapse that ultimately cost them at least a point in this high-octane encounter.
Key Questions
What caused the seven-goal thriller?
Clinical finishing and a red card for Al-Gharafa created open spaces, leading to a high Intensity score and a constant exchange of goals throughout the match.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Continental Survival at Stake in Sharjah
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 9/100. This opening clash represents a desperate search for momentum as two struggling sides attempt to ignite their continental campaign under the lights of the Sharjah Stadium.
The Setup
On September 15, 2025, Sharjah FC and Al-Gharafa meet in a fixture that feels more like a final than a group stage opener. Both clubs are currently mired in domestic mediocrity, with Sharjah sitting 9th and the visitors 10th in their respective leagues. A Form rating of 2.5 for the hosts reflects a run of three losses in five games, but they face an opponent in even deeper distress. Al-Gharafa have shipped 19 goals in just seven matches, a defensive frailty that undermines their technical Balance on the pitch. With the Stakes of the League Phase West demanding a fast start to reach the top-24 playoff line, neither manager can afford a conservative approach.
Key Battle
The decisive confrontation will occur in the final third, where Sharjah’s attacking trio of Luanzinho, Saldanha, and Caio Lucas will look to exploit Al-Gharafa's disorganized back line. While the Qatari side boasts creative Stars in F. Díaz and F. Coman, their inability to protect the transition has been their undoing. Expect Álvaro Djaló to lead the counter-charge for the visitors, but the game will likely be won or lost on whether Al-Gharafa’s midfield can offer any protection to their beleaguered central defenders.
Our Prediction
Sharjah FC should edge this contest 2-1. Despite their own inconsistencies, home advantage and Al-Gharafa’s porous defense provide the perfect platform for the hosts to secure three points. The match will likely be frantic, defined more by defensive errors than tactical sophistication, as Sharjah's superior clinical edge in the box makes the difference.