Home » Ronaldo double takes Al Nassr closer to Asian Champions League quarters

Ronaldo double takes Al Nassr closer to Asian Champions League quarters

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double for Al Nassr as they continued their journey in the AFC Champions League Elite with a 3-1 victory at Al Gharafa in Qatar.

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The Saudi champions defeated Al Gharafa 3-1 in Qatar on Monday in a duel between Ronaldo and an old friend from Real Madrid, Joselu.

The 39-year-old’s contributions moved Al Nassr closer to the last eight, with the team needing just two points from their final three group games.

Only Al Shorta, on two points with four games to play, can deny Ronaldo’s side a place in the next round after Persepolis drew 1-1 at Al Rayyan.

Al Nassr captain Ronaldo had looked destined to endure a hugely frustrating game following a series of missed opportunities in the first half at Al Bayt Stadium.

However, the Portugal star finally opened the scoring a little over 50 seconds into the second half when he headed home Sultan Al Ghannam’s cross from close range.

Al Nassr doubled their advantage through Angelo Gabriel, a summer signing from Chelsea, on 58 minutes, before the Brazilian turned provider six minutes later to tee up Ronaldo for his second.

The goal took the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward to four goals in this season’s rebranded competition before he was replaced on 74 minutes.

Al Gharafa did pull one back through Joselu, a former team-mate of Ronaldo at Madrid during the 2010s.
Yet their hopes of an unlikely late rally disappeared when Seydou Sano was sent off six minutes from the end of normal time for a second bookable offense.

The win ensures Al Nassr remains unbeaten through five matches in the Western side of the draw and moves second in the 12-team table.

The victory means Al Ahli has now won all five matches in the rebranded competition and thus led the Western standings by 15 points.

Also, in that section, Iran’s Esteghlal were held to a goalless draw by Uzbekistan side Pakhtakor Tashkent in Dubai.