Ronaldo’s brace sends Al-Nassr to knockouts

KATHMANDU: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr secured a dominant 3-1 victory over Qatar’s Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League group stage on Monday night.

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive brace helped the team progress to the knockout stages.

The match saw Ronaldo’s early attempts denied by goalkeeper Sergio Rico. However, just before halftime, Ronaldo gave Al-Nassr the lead with a stunning free-kick in the 45th minute.

In the second half, he doubled his tally, expertly finishing off a cross from Angelo Gabriel.

In the 58th minute, Gabriel added a third goal for Al-Nassr, extending their lead to 2-0. Six minutes later, Ronaldo completed his brace, making it 3-0.

Despite a late goal from former Real Madrid striker José Lu in the 75th minute, Al-Gharafa’s efforts fell short, and they couldn’t mount a comeback.

Al-Ahli Tops Group with Stunning Performance

Earlier, Saudi club Al-Ahli made history by becoming the first team to secure a spot in the knockout rounds, defeating defending champions UAE’s Al-Ain 2-1 in the group stage.

English striker Ivan Toney, who joined Al-Ahli from Brentford in August, made an instant impact in the second half. Toney scored twice in a span of four minutes, both from Riyad Mahrez’s brilliant crosses.

Reflecting on his performance, Toney said, “The coach expected a different level of performance from me, and I accepted the challenge. It was especially meaningful to return to the pitch after a long break and achieve this feat.”

Al-Ahli won all five of their group stage matches, topping their group with 12 points. As per the tournament format, the top eight teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.

The outstanding performances of Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli have further solidified Saudi Arabian football’s presence on the world stage.