Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice for Al Nassr as they persisted to thrive in the AFC Champions League Elite, with the Saudi champions defeating Al Gharafa 3-1 in Qatar on Monday.
The 39-year-outmoded helped switch Al Nassr to the brink of the last 16 in Asia’s premier continental membership competition, wanting factual two substances from their remaining three crew video games.
Finest Al Shorta, who appreciate two substances with four video games to play, can teach Ronaldo’s aspect a home in the following round, after Persepolis drew 1-1 at Al Rayyan.
Al Nassr captain Ronaldo had regarded destined to endure a hugely frustrating sport following a series of passed over opportunities in the first half at Al Bayt Stadium.
However, the Portugal celebrity finally opened the scoring runt bigger than 50 seconds into the 2d half, when he headed home Sultan Al Ghannam’s execrable from conclude fluctuate.
Al Nassr then doubled their profit by Angelo Gabriel, a summer season signing from Chelsea, on 58 minutes, earlier than the Brazilian turned provider six minutes later to tee up Ronaldo for his 2d.
The goal took the weak Manchester United, Right Madrid and Juventus forward to four goals on this season’s rebranded competition earlier than he was modified on 74 minutes.
Al Gharafa did pull one abet by Joselu, a weak group-mate of Ronaldo at Madrid.
But their hopes of an now not going unhurried rally disappeared when Seydou Sano was sent off six minutes from the conclude of long-established time for a 2d bookable offence.
The uncover ensures Al Nassr remain unbeaten by five suits in the Western aspect of the plan, and switch 2d in the 12-group table.
The head eight in the standings hobble into the last 16 knockout phases along with the conclude eight from the 12-group East Zone table.
– Tidy-sub Toney –
The Riyadh membership now take a seat in the abet of handiest Saudi Arabian counterparts Al Ahli, who maintained their 100 percent yarn as a result of a double from replace Ivan Toney to ascertain off Asian champions Al Ain 2-1 in the UAE and attain the knockouts for the first time.
The England world was left on the bench for the match at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, however having been introduced on 65 minutes, he scored within five minutes. First, he headed home Riyad Mahrez’s deep free-kick.
A unhurried window signing from English Premier League membership Brentford in August, Toney struck what proved to be the winner four minutes later.
This time, he met a unheard of prolonged cross from weak Manchester Metropolis winger Mahrez to originate past Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa.
Al Ain, who in April defeated Japan’s Urawa Purple Diamonds to uncover the title, pulled one abet unhurried on by Kaka’s sublime volley.
Al Ahli appreciate obtained all five suits in the rebranded competition and lead the Western standings on 15 substances.
Also in that part, Iran’s Esteghlal were held to a goalless plan by Uzbekistan aspect Pakhtakor Tashkent in Dubai.
