Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr certified for the Asian Champions League group stage after it secured an injury-time victory towards Shabab Al Ahli in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The Saudi Pro League aspect got here from behind to triumph 4-2 within the play-off at Mrsool Park, with Brazilian Anderson Talisca scoring twice and Croatia worldwide Marcelo Brozovic rounding off the win. Nassr had been two minutes from exiting the event.
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The outcome means Nassr, runner-up domestically final season, strikes into the group part, which begins subsequent month. Ronaldo, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, was making his debut in Asian soccer’s prime membership competitors after signing for the Riyadh membership final December.
Nassr opened the scoring on 11 minutes, when Taslica headed dwelling a Brozovic nook. However, Yahya Al Ghassani levelled for UAE champions Shabab Al Ahli seven minutes later, the winger slotting the ball into the Nassr internet after the Dubai aspect countered.
Ronaldo, 38, left the pitch at half-time clearly annoyed and will been seen arguing with the referee. The Portuguese star, the Nassr captain, believed he ought to have had two penalties within the first half.
Then, one minute after half-time, Al Ghassani raced away from the Nassr defence to flick the ball over Nawaf Al Aqidi and put Shabab Al Ahli in entrance.
However, Nassr equalised with two minutes of regular time remaining, when full-back Sultan Al Ghannam’s header was diverted into his personal objective by Walid Abbas.
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Nassr’s comeback was full 5 minutes into the allotted seven minutes of damage time, with Talisca nodding dwelling from shut vary. Moments later, as Shabab Al Ahli chased the equaliser, Ronaldo teed up Brozovic to drill his shot into the online and make secure the sport.
Elsewhere within the west zone, UAE aspect Sharjah certified for the event correct with a 3-1 victory away to Iran’s Tractor FC, whereas Uzbekistan’s Navbahor Namangan defeated Al Wakrah of Qatar 1-0 after additional time.
In Tuesday’s different play-off, Uzbek aspect AGMK Olmaliq defeated Qatar’s Al Arabi 1-0.
