Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice for Al Nassr as they continued to thrive within the AFC Champions League Elite, with the Saudi champions defeating Al Gharafa 3-1 in Qatar on Monday.
The 39-year-old helped transfer Al Nassr to the brink of the final 16 in Asia’s premier continental membership competitors, needing simply two factors from their remaining three group video games.
Solely Al Shorta, who’ve two factors with 4 video games to play, can deny Ronaldo’s aspect a spot within the subsequent spherical, after Persepolis drew 1-1 at Al Rayyan.
Al Nassr captain Ronaldo had appeared destined to endure a massively irritating recreation following a sequence of missed alternatives within the first half at Al Bayt Stadium.
Nonetheless, the Portugal star lastly opened the scoring little greater than 50 seconds into the second half, when he headed dwelling Sultan Al Ghannam’s cross from shut vary.
Al Nassr then doubled their benefit by way of Angelo Gabriel, a summer time signing from Chelsea, on 58 minutes, earlier than the Brazilian turned supplier six minutes later to tee up Ronaldo for his second.
The aim took the previous Manchester United, Actual Madrid and Juventus ahead to 4 objectives on this season’s rebranded competitors earlier than he was changed on 74 minutes.
Al Gharafa did pull one again by way of Joselu, a former team-mate of Ronaldo at Madrid.
But their hopes of an unlikely late rally disappeared when Seydou Sano was despatched off six minutes from the tip of regular time for a second bookable offence.
The win ensures Al Nassr stay unbeaten by way of 5 matches within the Western aspect of the draw, and transfer second within the 12-team desk.
The highest eight within the standings go into the final 16 knockout levels together with the highest eight from the 12-team East Zone desk.
– Tremendous-sub Toney –
The Riyadh membership now sit behind solely Saudi Arabian counterparts Al Ahli, who maintained their one hundred pc report due to a double from substitute Ivan Toney to see off Asian champions Al Ain 2-1 within the UAE and attain the knockouts for the primary time.
The England worldwide was left on the bench for the match at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, nonetheless having been launched on 65 minutes, he scored inside 5 minutes. First, he headed dwelling Riyad Mahrez’s deep free-kick.
A late window signing from English Premier League membership Brentford in August, Toney struck what proved to be the winner 4 minutes later.
This time, he met an excellent lengthy go from former Manchester Metropolis winger Mahrez to complete previous Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa.
Al Ain, who in April defeated Japan’s Urawa Pink Diamonds to win the title, pulled one again late on by way of Kaka’s chic volley.
Al Ahli have gained all 5 matches within the rebranded competitors and lead the Western standings on 15 factors.
Additionally in that part, Iran’s Esteghlal had been held to a goalless draw by Uzbekistan aspect Pakhtakor Tashkent in Dubai.
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