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’s contributions moved Al Nassr nearer to the final eight, needing simply two factors from their last three group video games.
Solely Al Shorta on two factors, with 4 video games to play, can deny Ronaldo’s facet a spot within the subsequent spherical, after Persepolis drew 1-1 at Al Rayyan.
Al Nassr captain Ronaldo had appeared destined to endure a vastly irritating recreation following a collection 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 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 purpose took the previous Manchester United, Actual Madrid and Juventus ahead to 4 targets on this season’s rebranded competitors earlier than he was changed on 74 minutes.
Al Gharafa did pull one again by 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 top of regular time for a second bookable offence.
The win ensures Al Nassr stay unbeaten by 5 matches within the Western facet of the draw, and transfer second within the 12-team desk.
– Tremendous-sub Toney –
The Riyadh membership now sit behind solely Saudi Arabian counterparts Al Ahli, who maintained their one hundred pc file 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 outstanding lengthy cross from former Manchester Metropolis winger Mahrez to complete previous Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa.
Al Ain, who in April defeated Japan’s Urawa Purple Diamonds to win the title, pulled one again late on by Kaka’s chic volley.
The victory means Al Ahli have now received all 5 matches within the rebranded competitors, and thus led the Western standings on 15 factors.
Additionally in that part, Iran’s Esteghlal had been held to a goal-less draw by Uzbekistan facet Pakhtakor Tashkent in Dubai.
