Cristiano Ronaldo netted a brace to guide Al-Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al-Gharafa in Qatar on Monday, preserving their AFC Champions League hopes alive.
The Saudi champions are actually on the verge of reaching the final 16, needing simply two factors from their remaining three group matches.
Only Al-Shorta, who sit on two factors with 4 video games left, can forestall Ronaldo’s aspect from advancing.
The victory introduced Al-Nassr nearer to the subsequent spherical after Persepolis drew 1-1 at Al Rayyan.
Ronaldo, who endured a irritating first half with a number of missed possibilities, broke the impasse simply 50 seconds into the second half, heading in Sultan Al-Ghannam’s cross from shut vary to offer his aspect the essential lead.
Al-Nassr then doubled their benefit via Angelo Gabriel, a summer time signing from Chelsea, on the 58th minute, earlier than the Brazilian turned supplier six minutes later to tee up Ronaldo for his second.
The purpose took the previous Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus ahead to 4 objectives on this season’s rebranded competitors earlier than he was changed within the 74th minute.
Al-Gharafa did pull one again via Joselu, a former teammate of Ronaldo at Madrid.
Yet their hopes of an unlikely late rally disappeared when Seydou Sano was despatched off six minutes from the tip of regular time for a second bookable offense.
The win ensures Al-Nassr stay unbeaten via 5 matches within the Western aspect of the draw and transfer to second within the 12-team desk.
The prime eight within the standings will transfer into the final 16 knockout phases, alongside the highest eight from the 12-team East Zone desk.
Super-sub Toney
The Riyadh membership now sits behind solely Saudi Arabian counterparts Al-Ahli, who maintained their 100% report due to a double from substitute Ivan Toney to see off Asian champions Al Ain 2-1 within the UAE and attain the knockouts for the primary time.
The England worldwide was left on the bench for the match at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium; nevertheless, after being launched within the sixty fifth minute, he scored inside 5 minutes. First, he headed house Riyad Mahrez’s deep free kick.
A late-window signing from English Premier League membership Brentford in August, Toney struck what proved to be the winner 4 minutes later.
This time, he met an outstanding lengthy cross from former Manchester City winger Mahrez to complete previous Al-Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa.
Al-Ain, who in April defeated Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds to win the title, pulled one again late on via Kaka’s chic volley.
Al-Ahli have gained all 5 matches within the rebranded competitors and lead the Western standings on 15 factors.
Also in that part, Iran’s Esteghlal have been held to a goalless draw by Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor Tashkent in Dubai.
Source: www.dailysabah.com