Ronaldo Absent as Al-Nassr Draws with Al-Shorta in AFC Champions League Elite Opener

In the opening match of the AFC Champions League Elite, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr managed a 1-1 draw against Iraq’s Al-Shorta, in a game that notably missed the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Held on Monday, September 16, 2024, in Baghdad’s Al-Madina Stadium, the game marked the beginning of the revamped league.

Al-Nassr took an early lead with a goal from Sultan Al-Ghannam in the 14th minute. However, the advantage was short-lived, as Al-Shorta’s Mohammed Dawood leveled the score ten minutes later. The match, highly anticipated because of its historic context, witnessed a setback for Al-Nassr with an injury to Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic, who was forced to exit the match early in the second half.

Despite the absence of Ronaldo, who remained in Riyadh due to a viral infection, Al-Nassr aimed to start strong in the tournament. Ronaldo, a winner of five UEFA Champions League titles, has yet to secure a major victory with Al-Nassr.

Simultaneously, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli earned a 1-0 victory over Iran’s Persepolis. The match’s decisive goal came from Franck Kessie, a former player for FC Barcelona and AC Milan, who scored in the opening minute. Ivan Toney, recently transferred from Brentford in the English Premier League, debuted for Al-Ahli but did not score.

Elsewhere, Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates drew 1-1 against Qatar’s Al-Sadd, while Iran’s Esteghlal defeated Qatar’s Al-Gharafa 3-0. The tournament has been organized into two geographic zones, East and West, with each group comprising 12 teams. Teams will play eight matches, and the top eight from each group will progress to the round of 16.

Further excitement in the tournament continues with Saudi Arabia’s third team, Al-Hilal, scheduled to face Al-Rayyan in Qatar on Tuesday.