Cristiano Ronaldo’s stellar performance propelled Al Nassr to a commanding 3-1 victory over Al Gharafa in Qatar on Monday, as the Saudi champions continued their impressive campaign in the AFC Champions League Elite. The win places Al Nassr closer to securing a spot in the quarterfinals, needing just two points from their remaining three group matches.
Ronaldo’s Double Brilliance
Despite a frustrating first half marked by missed chances, the Al Nassr captain made a decisive impact early in the second half. Less than a minute after the restart, Ronaldo headed Sultan Al Ghannam’s cross into the net to break the deadlock.
Al Nassr doubled their lead through Angelo Gabriel, a summer signing from Chelsea, who scored on the 58th minute. Six minutes later, Gabriel provided a perfect assist for Ronaldo to net his second goal of the match. This brought Ronaldo’s tally to four goals in the rebranded tournament. The Portuguese star was substituted in the 74th minute, leaving the pitch to applause.
Al Gharafa managed to score a consolation goal through Joselu, Ronaldo’s former teammate at Real Madrid. However, their comeback hopes were dashed when Seydou Sano received a second yellow card six minutes before full time.
Al Nassr’s Dominance
With the victory, Al Nassr remains unbeaten after five matches in the Western group of the competition. They currently sit second in the 12-team table, trailing only Al Ahli, another Saudi club. Al Nassr’s consistency has positioned them as strong contenders for the knockout stages.
Al Ahli’s Perfect Record
In another standout match, Al Ahli maintained their unbeaten run with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al Ain in the UAE. England international Ivan Toney, signed from Brentford during the summer, proved to be the hero. Coming off the bench in the 65th minute, Toney scored twice in quick succession.
His first goal came from a well-placed Riyad Mahrez free kick, which he headed into the net. Minutes later, Toney latched onto a brilliant long pass from Mahrez and slotted it past Al Ain’s goalkeeper Khalid Essa.
Although Al Ain’s Kaka delivered a stunning late volley, it was not enough to deny Al Ahli their fifth consecutive win. The Saudi side now leads the Western standings with 15 points, securing their place in the knockouts for the first time.
Other Western Matches
Elsewhere in the Western section, Iran’s Esteghlal played out a goalless draw against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor Tashkent in Dubai. The result leaves both teams with ground to cover as the competition intensifies.
A New Era of Saudi Dominance
The rebranded AFC Champions League has showcased the growing dominance of Saudi clubs, with Al Nassr and Al Ahli emerging as formidable forces. Both teams, powered by international stars like Ronaldo, Toney, and Mahrez, have underscored the league’s increasing competitiveness and global appeal.
As the tournament progresses, the spotlight remains on Saudi Arabia’s representatives to see if they can convert their strong form into championship glory.
