Cristiano Ronaldo notched two goals in the second half, propelling Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia to a 4-3 triumph over Qatar’s Al-Duhail in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday.
Al-Nassr has accumulated nine points from three Group E matches, establishing a three-point lead over Persepolis after the Iranian side clinched a 2-0 victory over Tajikistan’s Istiklol. Ronaldo initiated the action by setting up Anderson Talisca with a backheel for the opening goal, and Sadio Mane doubled the lead before the halftime break.
Ronaldo, the Portuguese sensation, extended the advantage to 3-0 with a splendid left-footed curler from beyond the area just before the hour mark. However, Al-Duhail staged a comeback with goals from Ismaeel Mohammed and Almoez Ali. Ronaldo stepped up once more, volleying a deep cross into the net with nine minutes remaining. Despite Michael Olunga’s strike making it 4-3, Al-Nassr managed to secure the victory.
In other matches, Al-Hilal dominated Mumbai City 6-0, with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring a hat-trick, placing Al-Hilal at the top of Group D with seven points from three games. In the absence of the injured Karim Benzema, Al-Ittihad claimed a last-minute 1-0 victory over Al Quwa Al Jawiya of Iraq. Al-Ittihad is now two points ahead of Iranian team Sepahan, which secured a 3-1 win against AGMK in Uzbekistan, in Group C.
Turning to the eastern zone, two teams boasting three titles each squared off in Japan. Pohang Steelers of South Korea triumphed 2-0 over host Urawa Reds, with Jeong Jae-hee scoring the opener in the first half, and Goh Young-jun adding a second. Pohang now leads Group J with a perfect record of three wins from three matches, holding a five-point advantage over Urawa and Wuhan Three Towns.
Wuhan Three Towns, the Chinese champions, secured a 2-1 victory over Vietnam’s Hanoi FC. Meanwhile, two-time champion Ulsan Hyundai Horangi from South Korea defeated Malaysia’s Johor Darul Tazim 3-1 but currently holds the second position in Group I, trailing Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, which emerged victorious with a 4-2 scoreline against Thailand’s BG Pathum United.
