Cristiano Ronaldo leads Al Nassr to Asian Champions League quarter-finals
Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show once again as he led Al Nassr into the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League with a commanding performance against domestic rivals Al Fayha.
In a decisive second leg encounter on Wednesday, Al Nassr secured a 2-0 victory over Al Fayha, sealing a 3-0 aggregate triumph.
The Saudi Arabian side, led by Ronaldo, demonstrated their superiority throughout the match at Al Awwal Park.
Portuguese winger Otavio opened the scoring for Nassr in the 17th minute with a close-range header, setting the tone for the evening. Despite some contentious penalty appeals and a disallowed goal, Ronaldo remained resilient.
However, the 39-year-old captain of Nassr had the final say, capitalizing on a defensive error by Fayha’s goalkeeper in the dying minutes of the game to secure his 10th goal in nine matches for Nassr.
Ronaldo’s remarkable performance comes as no surprise, considering his illustrious career with clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. His transition to the Asian football arena has been seamless, with the five-time UEFA Champions League winner now making waves in the Asian equivalent.
In another thrilling encounter, 2003 champions Al Ain staged a dramatic comeback against Nasaf Qarshi to secure their spot in the quarter-finals. A late goal in stoppage time propelled Al Ain to a 2-1 victory, securing a 2-1 aggregate triumph over the Uzbekistan side.
With Al Nassr and Al Ain set to clash in the Asian Champions League quarter-finals, football fans can anticipate a very interesting showdown between two formidable teams who have eyes on the title.