Cristiano Ronaldo scored a spectacular double as Al-Nassr stayed perfect in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday, the Saudi Pro League outfit getting a 4-3 win in Riyadh over Al Duhail from Qatar to move on to nine points from three games in Group E.
Ronaldo Sets Up Talisca and Mane
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward set up Anderson Talisca to score his side’s opener in the 25th minute and Sadio Mane netted the second, with Ronaldo scoring from distance in the 61st minute to give Al-Nassr a three-goal lead.
Talisca, who joined Al-Nassr from Guangzhou FC in China, headed home Ronaldo’s cross from the right wing to break the deadlock. Mane, who moved from Liverpool in the summer, doubled the advantage with a low shot from inside the box after a neat one-two with Ronaldo.
Al Duhail Fight Back But Ronaldo Seals the Win
Ismaeel Mohammad and Almoez Ali pulled Al Duhail back into contention before Ronaldo’s 81st-minute volley restored their two-goal cushion, only for Michael Olunga to hit Al Duhail’s third with five minutes remaining to ensure a tense finish.
Mohammad scored with a header from a corner kick in the 64th minute and Ali converted a penalty in the 76th minute after he was fouled by Abdullah Madu. However, Ronaldo showed his class with a stunning volley from Talisca’s cross to make it 4-2 for Al-Nassr. Olunga gave Al Duhail some hope with a close-range finish but Al-Nassr held on for the victory.
Al-Nassr Top Group E While Persepolis Beat Istiklol
The win moves Al-Nassr three points clear of Iran’s Persepolis, who saw Alireza Beiranvand make a seventh-minute penalty save from Senin Sebai before winning 2-0 in Tehran against FC Istiklol of Tajikistan. Saeid Sadeghi scored twice to earn the home side their second win in three games and go five points clear of Al Duhail and Istiklol, who have a solitary point each.
Al-Nassr have won all three of their matches in Group E, scoring 10 goals and conceding four. They are the only team in the group stage to have a perfect record so far. Ronaldo has scored four goals and assisted three in his debut campaign in the Asian Champions League.
Only the winners of each of the 10 groups in the competition will advance to the last 16, where they will be joined by the three best runners-up from the eastern and western halves of the draw.
