In an impressive performance, Al Nassr secured a 5-1 victory over Al Ain in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) group stage, with Cristiano Ronaldo delivering a crucial goal. Despite a strong effort from South Korean midfielder Park Yong-woo, who helped force an own goal for Al Ain, the UAE team fell short against the defending champions from Saudi Arabia.
Match Overview: Al Nassr’s Early Lead Sets the Tone
The match took place on November 6 at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh. Al Nassr capitalized on their home advantage early, with Talisca opening the scoring in the fifth minute. Talisca’s precise, low-driven shot from the edge of the penalty arc slipped past the Al Ain defense, putting the visitors on the back foot immediately.
Sadio Mane doubled Al Nassr’s lead in the 31st minute, delivering a powerful shot that was initially blocked by the goalkeeper. Ronaldo quickly seized the rebound, skillfully netting the ball with his left foot to bring the score to 2-0. Just six minutes later, a shot from Gabriel deflected off Al Ain’s defender Cardozo, resulting in an own goal and sending Al Nassr into halftime with a comfortable 3-0 lead.안전 놀이터
Park’s Efforts and Al Ain’s Struggle
In the second half, Al Ain worked to close the gap, with Park Yong-woo stepping up. In the 56th minute, Park launched a long-range shot that hit the goalpost, rebounding off Al Nassr’s goalkeeper Bento and resulting in an own goal, putting Al Ain on the scoreboard at 3-1.
However, Al Nassr quickly reasserted their control. In the 81st minute, Wesley scored a decisive fourth goal, followed by a second goal from Talisca during injury time, securing Al Nassr’s 5-1 win.
Standings and Group Dynamics in ACLE
This season’s AFC Champions League Elite has divided 24 teams into East and West Asian groups, with 12 teams in each. The top eight teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16. With this win, Al Nassr moved up to third place with three wins and a draw, improving their chances of progressing further in the tournament. Meanwhile, Al Ain, with one draw and three losses, is now at the bottom of their group, struggling to replicate last season’s success.안전놀이터
Ronaldo’s Impact and Al Nassr’s Outlook
Ronaldo’s goal, which secured the game for Al Nassr, marked another highlight in his ACLE campaign, underscoring his importance to the team’s ambitions. His timely goal reinforced Al Nassr’s position as a competitive force in the group stage and helped ignite their hopes of a deeper run in the tournament.
While Al Ain’s Park Yong-woo showed flashes of skill and determination, his team’s efforts were not enough to overcome the reigning champions. With critical points at stake in the next matches, both Al Nassr and Al Ain will look to their key players as they fight to stay competitive in the tournament.
This dominant win signals Al Nassr’s intent to retain their title, while Al Ain must regroup and refocus if they hope to advance in the competition.