AL RAYYAN, Qatar — In a thrilling match on Monday, Cristiano Ronaldo netted two goals as Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia triumphed over Qatar’s Al-Gharafa with a score of 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage. The victory puts Al-Nassr in a strong position to secure a place in the knockout rounds of the tournament.

Ronaldo started the game on an aggressive note but saw two of his early shots expertly saved by goalkeeper Sergio Ricom. About half an hour into the game, he found himself set up for a penalty after Sadio Mane was brought down in the box by Matias Nani; however, the referee’s decision was reversed after a VAR review. Ronaldo also missed a key scoring chance by heading a free kick just past the post before halftime.

In the second half, Ronaldo redeemed himself by scoring a powerful header from an Angelo cross, putting his team ahead. Angelo then extended the lead to 2-0 in the 58th minute, skillfully maneuvering around the goalkeeper before finishing. Just six minutes later, Ronaldo made sure of the win by scoring from inside the box. Al-Gharafa’s former Real Madrid striker Joselu managed to pull one back, but it was not enough to alter the outcome.

Earlier in a different match, Ivan Toney made headlines by scoring twice as Al-Ahli, also from Saudi Arabia, defeated the reigning champions Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates with a score of 2-1. This victory marked the notable achievement of being the first team to secure a spot in the knockout stages with three games still to play. Toney, who joined Al-Ahli from Brentford in August, came off the bench and scored both goals within four minutes, assisted by Riyad Mahrez’s precise crosses—one was a header, and the other a clever guide into the net.

Toney expressed his feelings after the game, stating, “Coach (Matthias) Jaissle told me to come on and make a difference. It was challenging because I’ve missed many games, but I stepped in and delivered a good performance.” Al-Ahli’s victory marked their fifth consecutive win in the tournament, allowing them to take the top position in their 12-team group. The tournament is organized into two groups, with the top eight advancing to the round of 16.