Al Nassr vs Al Rayyan: Criano Ronaldo scores decisive goal for Saudi club in AFC Champions League Elite thriller | Football News
Criano Ronaldo Scores: Criano Ronaldo emerged hero in Al-Nassr’s close win against Al-Rayyan in their AFC Champions League Elite group stage fixture on Monday.
With Al Nassr leading a margin of one goal and 14 minutes remaining on the clock, the five-time Ballon D’or winner blasted a shot into the top corner – the eventual winner for the Saudi Pro League club.
It accounted for Ronaldo’s first goal in the AFC Champions League this season, his seventh overall this season for Al Nassr.
The goal wasn’t the first time that Ronaldo found the net in the game. Earlier in the game, Ronaldo was disallowed a goal after being ruled offside.
The Saudi club took the lead in the first half, courtesy of a goal from former Liverpool and Bayern Munich winger Sadio Mane. Ronaldo and Co seemed to be heading for a clean sheet with just three minutes of time left when Roger Guedes scored from close range to pull one back for Al-Rayyan.
After two games this season, Al Nassr sit third in the Elite Group B of the Asian continental club football tournament, with a win and a draw.
Ronaldo had missed out their first game of the season against Iraq’s Al-Shorta a couple weeks ago after being exposed to viral infection. With the Portuguese back in the side, the Saudi club are eyeing their first-ever continental and league title.
In the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr are currently fourth with 11 points from five games. Al-Hilal remain table toppers with 15 points from as many matches.
