Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia defeated Qatar’s Al Gharafa 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage on Monday. This win brings Al Nassr to the brink of the knockout phase.
Ronaldo had two early shots saved by goalkeeper Sergio Ricom. Half an hour into the game, Sadio Mane went down in the box under a challenge from Matias Nani, leading the referee to award a penalty. However, VAR overturned the decision.
Just before halftime, Ronaldo missed a golden opportunity, heading a free kick just wide from close range. He redeemed himself in the second half, powerfully heading home from an Angelo cross. Angelo doubled the lead in the 58th minute by rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the net.
Ronaldo sealed the victory six minutes later with a precise shot from inside the area. Al Gharafa’s former Real Madrid striker, Joselu, managed to pull one back, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
In another match, Ivan Toney scored twice as Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli defeated defending champions Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates 2-1. This victory makes Al Ahli the first team to secure a spot in the knockout phase with three group games remaining. Toney, who transferred from Brentford in August, scored both goals after crosses from Riyad Mahrez.
“Coach Matthias Jaissle told me to come on and make a difference,” Toney said. “It was challenging because I’ve missed many games, but I stepped in and delivered a good performance.”
Al Ahli’s win marks their fifth consecutive victory, placing them at the top of their 12-team group. The tournament is divided into two groups, with the top eight from each advancing to the round of 16.
Reference(s):
Ronaldo takes Al Nassr to cusp of AFC Champions League Elite playoffs
cgtn.com
