Ronaldo’s Strike Gives Al Nassr Advantage In Champions League

Ronaldo’s Strike Gives Al Nassr Advantage In Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo notched his 21st goal of the season and his fourth in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday, clinching a vital victory for Al Nassr over Al Fayha with a 1-0 win in an all-Saudi last 16 encounter….READ ALSO

Facing off at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, the 39-year-old Portuguese icon initially struggled against a side positioned 14th in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Fayha had been one of only two teams in the domestic league to keep Ronaldo from scoring, and it seemed that streak might extend to a third match.

However, in the 81st minute, Ronaldo surged forward and expertly volleyed the ball past the advancing goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic after a swift exchange with Marcelo Brozovic.

Earlier in the game, Ronaldo had squandered a much simpler chance just before halftime, with his feeble attempt saved by Stojkovic.

In other fixtures on Wednesday, Bangkok United netted a stoppage-time equalizer against Yokohama F Marinos to salvage a 2-2 draw, while FC Nasaf and Al Ain played to a goalless stalemate.

South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are close to securing a spot in the quarter-finals following a 2-0 victory over Pohang Steelers.

At the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonbuk, champions in 2006 and 2016, found the net through their Brazilian forward Hernandes in the 17th minute, and Ahn Hyun-beom doubled the lead in the 64th minute.

Meanwhile, Bangkok United’s substitute Mahmoud Eid headed in the equalizer in the 92nd minute as the Thai side rallied from a 2-0 deficit at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani.

Nitipong Selanon had previously narrowed the gap with three minutes remaining in the first half.

Elber kicked off the scoring for the visiting Japanese outfit in the 18th minute, while Watanabe capitalized on Ren Kato’s precise pass to add the second in the 24th minute.