RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In a significant match, Cristiano Ronaldo made a notable impact by helping Al-Nassr secure a 3-0 victory against Esteghlal of Iran. This success allowed the Saudi Arabian team to progress to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.
Since joining Al-Nassr in December 2022, Ronaldo has been eagerly pursuing his first trophy with the Riyadh-based club. The Portuguese forward missed the first leg of the round of 16 tie in Tehran, which ended in a stalemate with no goals scored from either side.
Ronaldo’s presence was felt 26 minutes into the return match when he converted a penalty kick, adding his seventh goal to this tournament’s tally. The penalty was awarded following a foul on Sadio Mane inside the box.
Jhon Duran had previously put Al-Nassr in the lead with a strategic lob from the edge of the area, setting the stage for the team’s commanding performance.
Compounding Esteghlal’s challenges, the team played with one man less just before half-time after Mehran Ahmadi received a second yellow card, reducing them to ten men.
In the closing moments of the game, Duran sealed the victory for Al-Nassr with a low, precise shot—his second goal of the match—as they continue their quest for their first Asian championship title.
In another fixture, Al-Sadd of Qatar, known for its past glories, successfully moved forward into the next round, achieving a 4-2 aggregate win over UAE’s Al-Wasl.
