Riyadh: Al Nassr’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo scored the second goal as Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr defeated Al Rayyan 2-1 in the second round of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite (West Zone) at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on Monday.
Ronaldo’s goal came in the 76th minute after former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané had opened the scoring in one minute of added time in the first half. Róger Guedes scored Al Rayyan’s goal in the 87th minute of play.
Ronaldo left no one in doubt of his eagerness to make his mark on the night, as he was caught offside within a few seconds of the opening whistle in an attempt to get an early goal.
The former Real Madrid star had quite a number of attempts at goals, prominent among which was a left-footed shot from the left side of the six yard box, which was brilliantly saved in the centre of the goal by Al Rayyan’s goalkeeper Paulo Victor in the 10th minute, and another right-footed attempt from an assist by Ángelo three minutes later, which was also calmly saved by Victor.
With the passing of time, the hosts grew more into the game while Al Rayyan equally had a couple of chances of their own, with Mahmoud Trezeguet, in particular, being in outstanding form with several attempts at goals that were either saved or blocked.
Just when it seemed the half would end with the balance of scales even, the weight unsurprisingly titled towards Al Nassr in one minute of added time, with Mané finding the mark with a superb header from the left side of the six yard box after a through ball by Sultan Al Ghannam, following a corner kick.
The second half resumed with Al Nassr continuing to make attempts at increasing their goal lead while the Lions, who lost 1-3 at home to another Saudi side, Al Hilal, in the opening round of the continental tournament, went in search of an equaliser.
Ronaldo eventually doubled the lead for Al Nassr in the 76th minute with a left-footed shot from the right side of the box that sailed high into the net from an assist by Abdulrahman Ghareeb.
Undaunted by the deficit, the Qatari side kept their composure and continued to forge waves of attacks against their opponent.
Al Nassr’s defence eventually gave way three minutes to regulation time, with Guedes finishing a fast break for Al Rayyan with a splendid goal from an inch-perfect pass by Achraf Bencharki to reduce the deficit for the visitors.
Much as Al Rayyan would have loved to return from Saudi Arabia with at least a point, the luck of the draw was however not in their favour as the match ended with Al Nassr getting the maximum points.
Al Rayyan will next host Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia on October 21, while Al Nassr visit Iran’s Esteghlal the next day.
