AFC Champions League: Al-Nassr defeats Al-Duhail 4-3 thanks to stunning plays by Cristiano Ronaldo.
AFC Champions League: Al-Nassr defeats Al-Duhail 4-3 thanks to stunning plays by Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the AFC Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo turned back time to score two incredible goals and lead his Al Nassr team to an exciting 4-3 victory over Al Duhail of Qatar. Late on Tuesday, the Saudi team added goals from Anderson Talisca and former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, bringing their record in the first Asian club championship to three victories out of three.
In the 25th minute, Talisca scored the first goal in Riyadh from beyond the box, setting up the goal with a deft back-heeled flick from 38-year-old Ronaldo, who was showing off all of his talents. Eleven minutes after the break, Mane turned and slammed home a second goal to make it 3-0. Five minutes later, it looked as though Al Nassr was coasting when Ronaldo curled home a delicious third goal from outside the area.
However, the Qatari team, spurred on by former Liverpool and Barcelona winger Philippe Coutinho, scored twice in the next six minutes through Almoez Ali and Ismail Mohamad, leaving the match in suspense.
Ronaldo appeared to have the final say with nine minutes left when he ran onto a long ball from Sultan Al Ghannam and slammed home a spectacular left-foot volley without pausing. Michael Olunga drew it back to 4-3 in the 85th minute, setting up a tense final few minutes. There was still time for another twist.
The manager of Al Duhail, Christophe Galtier, also oversaw French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain last year. “When you face Ronaldo, there isn’t much you can do,” he stated.
– ‘Best in the world’ –
“He netted two exquisite goals. I have no idea how to characterize him. For someone who is 38 years old, what he did today is remarkable. He remains the world’s greatest player.” Al Hilal, a different Riyadh-based team, easily overcame the absence of their injured star Neymar, defeating Mumbai City 6-0 thanks to two goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic, a former Fulham forward.
East Zone: South Korea’s Pohang Steelers defeated the reigning champion Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan 2-0 at home. Jeong Jae-hee and Goh Young-jun scored goals for Pohang Steelers just before halftime in Saitama.
With just four points from their first three Group J games, Urawa now needs help to get to the knockout stages. They are currently tied with Wuhan Three Towns of China, who defeated Hanoi FC 2-1 to record their first victory.
Pohang was the superior team today and should have won. We were limited, particularly in terms of physical exertion,” Maciej Skorza, the manager of Urawa, stated.
By defeating Thailand’s BG Pathum United 4-2 away from home, the Japanese team Kawasaki Frontale improved to 3-1 overall and opened a three-point lead over South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai at the top of Group I.
