Explore how Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence impacted Al-Nassr’s performance, allowing Al-Sadd to secure their place in the ACL knockout rounds. Read more now.
Introduction:
Adam Ounas scored a winning penalty in injury time to ensure Al-Sadd’s 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr in the Asian Champions League (ACL) Elite on Monday. This victory in Riyadh sealed Al-Sadd’s position in the tournament and guaranteed their qualification to the knockout stages, alongside three other Saudi Arabian giants: Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Nassr.
The Match: Al-Sadd vs. Al-Nassr
Al-Nassr felt the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo as they found it tough to hold control over an energetic Al-Sadd team. Al-Sadd’s reigning Asian Player of the Year, Akram Afif, had opened the scoring in the 53rd minute. From midfield, Afif ran at pace, showing extraordinary composure by slotting the ball past Al-Nassr’s goalkeeper Bento.
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However, Al-Sadd’s lead was threatened when Romain Saiss inadvertently diverted a dangerous cross from Wesley into his own net in the 80th minute. With the score levelled at 1-1, the tension mounted as the match entered injury time. Al-Sadd’s resilience finally paid off when Afif was brought down in the penalty area. Adam Ounas took responsibility and delivered a clinical penalty to seal the victory.
A Look at the Last-16 Landscape
With this win, Al-Sadd became the fourth team from the western group to secure a spot in the last 16. Joining them are Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Nassr, showcasing the dominance of Saudi Arabian clubs in this season’s competition. The revamped ACL sees the top eight teams from the western and eastern leagues advancing to the knockout stage, scheduled for March.
Al-Ahli’s Streak Halted by Esteghlal
In another exciting match, Al-Ahli was held to a 2-2 draw by Esteghlal. The draw ended the Jeddah-based club’s perfect record in the tournament, which had seen them win their first five matches. However, Al-Ahli, under Matthias Jaissle, remains the group leader with 16 points from six games, three points ahead of Al-Hilal.
Esteghlal’s Rafael Silva gave them an early lead in the 42nd minute with a spectacular volley. Ivan Toney was able to level the game for Al-Ahli in stoppage time with a foul against Fahad Al-Rashidi. Esteghlal soon regained the lead in the second half when Mohammad Hossein Eslami had scored. Eslami’s red card in the 81st minute sent Esteghlal into a vulnerability where Toney scored another penalty in the dying minutes of the game to save a point for Al-Ahli.
Persepolis Registers First ACL Win
Iran’s Persepolis finally ended their winless run in this edition of the ACL when they edged Iraq’s Al-Shorta 2-1 in Doha. Al-Shorta opened the scores through Mohannad Ali, whose lob in the 19th minute was perfectly executed. Persepolis levelled through Oston Urunov before Giorgi Gvelesiani converted a 103rd-minute penalty to seal the hard-fought win.
Al-Wasl and Al-Rayyan Share Points
In a closely contested match in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ Al-Wasl and Qatar’s Al-Rayyan shared the spoils of a 1-1 draw. Caio Canedo scored for Al-Wasl as early as the 77th minute, but the match went level eight minutes later when his own goal was credited to Salem Al-Azizi.
Road Ahead in the ACL
As the group stages near its end, the race for the remaining last-16 spots heightens. Al-Hilal, who is looking to close the gap with Al-Ahli, will play Qatar’s Al-Gharafa in a crucial encounter.
The knockout stage promises some fantastic matches as some of Asia’s finest clubs prepare to battle it out for continental supremacy. The dominance of Saudi Arabian teams in the western group coupled with strong performances from teams like Persepolis highlights the fierce competition this season.
Conclusion: Absence of Cristiano Ronaldo
The latest round of the Asian Champions League delivered thrilling action, unexpected twists, and decisive outcomes. Al-Sadd’s resilience against Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli’s fight to maintain their unbeaten run, and Persepolis’s long-awaited victory highlighted the unpredictable nature of the competition. As the tournament progresses to the knockout stages, the intensity is set to rise, promising more memorable moments and fierce battles for supremacy in Asia’s premier club football competition.