Cristiano Ronaldo watched on from the stands as already-qualified Al Nassr misplaced for the primary year on this 12 months’s Asian Champions League (ACL) Elite as they have been crushed 2-1 in shock year by way of Qatar’s Al Sadd on Monday.
The 39-year-old Portuguese famous person used to be reportedly rested for the fixture in Riyadh given the Saudi membership had fasten their playground within the knockout levels latter date, with 3 rounds of the gang section extra.
The five-time Ballon d’Or award winner scored two times towards Al Gharafa, any other Qatari facet, latter year out, and upcoming netted a double once more within the Saudi Professional League on Friday.
Then again, the Al Nassr captain used to be disregarded from Stefano Pioli’s matchday squad for the talk over with of Al Sadd.
Ronaldo, who has 15 objectives in 18 appearances for his membership this season, used to be noticed at Al Awwal Soil sitting along his mom Dolores Aveiro and his spouse Georgina Rodriguez.
Al Sadd took the govern 8 mins into the second one part thru Akram Afif, when the reigning AFC Participant of the Occasion raced from the midway form onto an extended ball.
Afif outpaced defender Mohammed Al Fatil and completing low generation Brazil goalkeeper Bento.
Al Nassr drew stage on 80 mins, as soon as Brazilian teen Wesley’s low pass used to be become his personal function by way of Al Sadd defender Romain Saiss.
Then again, there can be a excess sting within the tail for Al Nassr, when Afif used to be tripped within the hosts’ penalty section and change Adam Ounas transformed from the spot within the 99th slight.
With the defeat, Al Nassr keep 3rd within the Western Pocket crew level, occasion Al Sadd walk fourth to additionally declare a place within the latter 16.
The govern 8 groups qualify for the knockout levels.
Fellow Saudi facet Al Ahli stay govern — despite the fact that they surrendered their 100% report on this 12 months’s match — because of an Ivan Toney double that fasten a 2-2 draw with Iran’s Esteghlal in Jeddah.
It represented a 2nd successive Champions League Elite fit through which Toney has scored two times following his double latter date towards Asian champions Al Ain.
