Cristiano Ronaldo Leads Al Nassr to Victory in AFC Champions League Bout

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Al Nassr defeated Esteghlal 2-0 at King Saud University Stadium on March 10, securing their place in the next round of the AFC Champions League.

The match saw Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo find the net in the opening half, consolidating Al Nassr’s path forward in the international competition. Duran opened the scoring in the eighth minute, displaying skill to curl the ball past Esteghlal’s goalkeeper. Ronaldo then doubled the lead in the 26th minute, marking his 927th career goal, positioning himself as a key player for the night.

Al Nassr maintained control throughout the first half, causing difficulties for the Esteghlal defense, which was already strained after a red card issued to defender Mehran Ahmadi in the 48th minute for a second yellow card.

“We played well as a team, kept our composure, and executed our game plan,” Ronaldo said after the match. His performance was critical as he looked to regain form after being sidelined in the first leg of the matchup, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Despite several opportunities, Al Nassr could not increase their lead after Ronaldo’s goal. They faced a strong Esteghlal defense, with goalkeeper Hosseini making commendable saves, including a spectacular effort on a direct free-kick from Ronaldo in the 37th minute.

Head coach Dorival Júnior expressed satisfaction with the result, emphasizing the need for the team to build on this success moving forward into the quarter-finals. He noted the importance of having Ronaldo back in action, stating, “Cristiano adds significant value to our squad, not just in goals, but also in leadership.”

Al Nassr’s triumph comes amidst a challenging domestic league campaign, where they sit in fourth place, ten points behind league leaders Al Ittihad.

With the win, Al Nassr advances to the next stage of the AFC Champions League, showcasing their resilience and talent as they remain hopeful for a title this season, especially following their mixed performance in recent league matches.