Cristiano Ronaldo’s journey in the Asian Champions League takes a confident stride forward, propelled by Al-Nassr’s impressive turnaround triumph of 4-2 against UAE’s Shabab Al-Ahli in their qualifying match. Despite securing the runner-up position in the previous Saudi Pro League season, Al-Nassr didn’t clinch one of the coveted three slots allocated for direct entry into the continental competition’s group stage. This privilege instead went to Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Fayha, leaving Al-Nassr in the shadows of opportunity.

Al Nassr win 4 -2 against Shabab Al Ahli in the AFC champions league

Facing off against Shabab Al-Ahli, who had clinched the UAE league title and triumphed over Al-Wehdat from Jordan in the preceding qualifying round, Al-Nassr commenced their clash at Al-Awwal Park on a strong note. Just 11 minutes into the contest, Anderson Talisca initiated the scoring, capitalizing on a setup by the newly recruited Marcelo Brozovic.

Anderson Talisca initiated the scoring

Despite asserting their dominance with a commanding 73 percent possession, Al-Nassr unexpectedly found themselves trailing as Yahya Alghassani secured two goals, straddling the half-time mark, to vault the visitors ahead. Ronaldo’s visible frustration was palpable on the field, notably expressed through animated discussions with officials following a denied penalty appeal.

Ronaldo angry with the ref

With the clock winding down and Al-Nassr still trailing in the 88th minute, the prospect of Ronaldo gracing the Champions League seemed uncertain. However, teammate Sultan Al-Ghannam staged a breathtaking equalizer, infusing renewed hope into their aspirations. The game surged into seven minutes of injury time, poised to escalate into extra time, until Brazilian midfielder Talisca seized the spotlight once again, netting a goal after 95 minutes to tip the balance in Al-Nassr’s favor.

Al Shabab pushed more effort

Adding the finishing touch, Brozovic sealed the victory, as Ronaldo orchestrated an opportune setup for the Croatian two minutes after Talisca’s score, propelling the home crowd into euphoria and ushering his team into the much-coveted group stage. This outcome was an immense relief for the beleaguered Luis Castro-led squad, who had weathered a turbulent start to their campaign. Ronaldo and his compatriots endured back-to-back defeats in the league season, succumbing to Al-Ettifaq and Al-Taawoun, and currently stand among the four teams yet to secure a single point. This comes despite substantial investments made over the summer, which brought esteemed players like Sadio Mane, Brozovic, Otavio, Alex Telles, and Seko Fofana into their ranks.

Brozovic late goal sealed the win

Anticipation now mounts as they await the Champions League group stage draw, with the fervent hope that this triumph will serve as a catalyst to rejuvenate their league performance.