Ronaldo Scores Twice as Al Nassr Wins AFC Champions League Match

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al Nassr defeated Al Gharafa 3-1 in Qatar on Monday in the AFC Champions League Elite. Al Nassr needed three points from their remaining three group games to reach the last eight, thanks to the 39-year-old.

After a succession of wasted chances in the first half at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Nassr captain Ronaldo appeared set for an unpleasant game. Within 50 seconds of the second half, the Portugal star headed home Sultan Al Ghannam’s cross from close range to score.

Al Nassr extended their lead on 58 minutes through Chelsea summer acquisition Angelo Gabriel, before Gabriel set up Ronaldo for his second six minutes later. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward scored four goals in this season’s revamped competition before being substituted on 74 minutes. Joselu, Ronaldo’s former Madrid teammate, scored for Al Gharafa.

They lost hope of a late recovery when Seydou Sano was sent off six minutes from time for a second bookable offence. Al Nassr stays unbeaten in five Western matches and moves second in the 12-team table with the win. Toney super-sub Riyadh is currently second only to Saudi Arabian team Al Ahli, who beat Asian champions Al Ain 2-1 in the UAE thanks to a double from substitute Ivan Toney.

After coming on as a substitute on 65 minutes, the England international scored within five minutes at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. So, he first headed home Riyad Mahrez’s long free-kick. Toney, a late August acquisition from Brentford, scored the winner four minutes later. He beat Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa after a great long pass from former Manchester City winger Mahrez.

Al Ain, who won the title in April over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, scored late on through Kaka’s magnificent volley. The win means Al Ahli have won all five matches in the renamed competition and lead the Western standings with 15 points. In Dubai, Pakhtakor Tashkent of Uzbekistan tied Esteghlal 0-0.