Cristiano Ronaldo contributed significantly to Al-Nassr’s triumph by scoring their second goal in a commanding 5-1 victory against defending champions Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates during the AFC Champions League Elite match held in Riyadh on Tuesday. This impressive win has positioned Saudi Arabian teams in the top three of the 12-team standings.

Al-Nassr now holds 10 points after four matches, trailing behind fellow Saudi rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, both of whom have maintained a flawless record with four consecutive victories.

Anderson Talisca set the tone for the match, netting the first goal just five minutes in with a precise shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Shortly after, Ronaldo extended the lead by scoring from close range following a rebound from goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, whose attempt to deflect Sadio Mane’s shot was not successful.

Before halftime, Al-Nassr scored another goal when Angelo’s low cross was inadvertently deflected into the net by Fabio Cardoso. Al-Ain managed to get on the scoreboard ten minutes after the break, with Park Yong-woo’s effort hitting the post and then ricocheting off the back of diving goalkeeper Bento into the goal.

In the match’s closing minutes, Al-Nassr’s dominance was further solidified with additional goals from Wesley and Talisca, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s strength in the western zone’s group. The top eight teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, in the eastern zone, Japan’s Vissel Kobe rose to the top of their group after defeating Gwangju FC from South Korea 2-0, a result that knocked the latter from their previous leading position. Taisei Miyashiro opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 15th minute, while Daiju Sasaki ensured the win after halftime.

In another notable match, Johor Darul Tazim from Malaysia clinched third place with a convincing 3-0 victory over the two-time champions Ulsan HD from South Korea. However, it was a different story for Shanghai Port, who, just three days after celebrating their Chinese Super League title, faced a setback with a 3-1 loss against Kawasaki Frontale from Japan. 

Central Coast Mariners, representing Australia in the tournament, secured their first point by holding Shanghai Shenhua to a thrilling 2-2 draw, adding to the excitement of this year’s competition.