Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a masterclass as Al-Nassr secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League. The win places the Saudi side second in Group B, keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.
Al-Nassr started the match strongly at Al Bayt Stadium, with Ronaldo testing Sergio Rico twice in the opening minutes.
The Portuguese star saw his first effort from distance parried away, while his second shot from the edge of the box also failed to beat the former PSG keeper.
Despite dominating possession, Al-Nassr couldn’t capitalise in the first half, registering only those two attempts on target.
Second-half surge sparks victory
The frustration ended shortly after the break, as Ronaldo headed home a brilliant cross from Sultan Al-Ghannam to put Al-Nassr in front.
The goal ignited the visitors, and they soon doubled their lead. Angelo and Otavio combined beautifully before Angelo’s dazzling footwork left Rico beaten, making it 2-0.
Ronaldo wasn’t done yet, showcasing his trademark composure to score a second. A clever dummy sat a defender down, and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner slotted the ball neatly into the net.
Al Gharafa push back but fall short
With a three-goal cushion, Al-Nassr appeared to ease off, allowing Al-Gharafa to press forward. Joselu, a former teammate of Ronaldo at Real Madrid, capitalised on a rebound to pull one back.
However, hopes of a comeback were dashed when Seydou Sano was sent off for a reckless challenge.
The Saudi side regained control to see out the match comfortably. With this performance, Al-Nassr reminded everyone of their potential in Asia.
As the group stage finale approaches, all eyes will be on Ronaldo and his teammates to see if they can keep their momentum going.
