Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice to lead Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Qatar’s Al Gharafa in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage on Monday. The win puts Al Nassr on the cusp of securing a spot in the knockout phase of the prestigious Asian tournament.
The match began with high intensity as Ronaldo tested Al Gharafa’s goalkeeper, Sergio Ricom, with two early shots. Controversy struck half an hour into the game when Sadio Mane was brought down in the area by Matias Nani, leading the referee to award a penalty to Al Nassr. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and the game remained goalless.
Ronaldo had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock before halftime but headed a free kick narrowly wide from close range. Undeterred, the Portuguese star redeemed himself in the second half. In the 56th minute, he powerfully headed home from an Angelo cross, igniting celebrations among the Al Nassr supporters.
Just two minutes later, Angelo doubled the lead by skillfully rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the net. The momentum remained with Al Nassr as Ronaldo struck again in the 64th minute, firing a shot from inside the area to make it 3-0.
Al Gharafa managed to pull one back when former Real Madrid striker Joselu found the net, but it was not enough to dent Al Nassr’s dominance. With this victory, Al Nassr are all but assured a place in the knockout rounds, showcasing their ambition to make a deep run in the competition.
In another Group A encounter, Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia secured a 2-1 win against defending champions Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates. English striker Ivan Toney, who joined Al Ahli from Premier League side Brentford in August, came off the bench to score twice in four minutes.
Toney’s impact was immediate, as he converted two crosses from Riyad Mahrez—heading home the first and stretching to guide in the second. “Coach Matthias Jaissle told me to come on and make a difference,” Toney said after the match. “It was challenging because I’ve missed many games, but I stepped in and delivered a good performance.”
Al Ahli’s victory marks their fifth win in as many games, making them the first team to book a place in the knockout phase with three group matches to spare. They now sit atop their 12-team group, solidifying their status as strong contenders in the tournament.
The AFC Champions League Elite group stage continues to captivate fans across Asia, with teams vying for supremacy and a chance to etch their names in continental football history.
Reference(s):
Ronaldo takes Al Nassr to cusp of AFC Champions League Elite playoffs
cgtn.com
