Cristiano Ronaldo saw from the stands as Qatar’s Al Sadd defeated already-qualified Al Nassr 2-1 in injury time to suffer their first loss in this year’s Asian Champions League Elite.
Cristiano Ronaldo was in the stands as Qatar’s Al Sadd defeated already-qualified Al Nassr 2-1 in injury time on Monday, causing them to lose for the first time in this year’s Asian Champions League Elite. Last time out, Ronaldo scored twice against another Qatari team, Al Gharafa. On Friday, he scored twice again in the Saudi Pro League.
However, Stefano Pioli’s matchday team for Al Sadd’s visit did not include the Al Nassr skipper.
Ronaldo, who has scored 15 goals in 18 club games this season, sat with his partner Georgina Rodriguez and his mother Dolores Aveiro at Al Awwal Park.
Akram Afif, the current AFC Player of the Year, gave Al Sadd the lead eight minutes into the second half when he sprinted from the halfway line onto a long pass.
Afif finished low past Brazil’s goalie Bento, surpassing defender Mohammed Al Fatil.
On the 80th minute, Romain Saiss, a defender for Al Sadd, diverted Brazilian teenager Wesley’s low cross into his own goal, giving Al Nassr the equalizer.
But in the 99th minute, Adam Ounas, who came on as a substitute, scored from the penalty spot after a foul by the home team on Afif in their penalty area, leaving Al Nassr with a severe sting in their tail.
Al Sadd moves up to fourth place and secures a berth in the round of 16, while Al Nassr remains third in the Western Region group stage after the loss.
The top eight teams advance to the next round.
Despite giving up their perfect record in this year’s competition, fellow Saudi team Al Ahli is still atop the standings after a double from Ivan Toney salvaged a 2-2 draw with Esteghlal of Iran in Jeddah.
The England striker gave the home team two penalty spot equalizers, the first deep into injury time in the first half and the second in the 86th minute. Five minutes prior, Esteghlal had Mohammed Hossein Eslami sent off.
After his double against Asian champions Al Ain last week, it was Toney’s second straight Champions League Elite encounter in which he scored twice.
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