Cristiano Ronaldo was in the stands as Qatar’s Al Sadd defeated already-qualified Al Nassr 2-1 in injury time on Monday, causing them to lose for the first time in this year’s Asian Champions League Elite.
Given that the Saudi team had guaranteed their spot in the knockout stages last week, with three rounds of the group phase left, the 39-year-old Portuguese star was reportedly rested for the match in Riyadh.
Al-Sadd STUN Al-Nassr with a late winner in the AFC Champions League 😱 🌏 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IUkBdSwlug
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) December 2, 2024
Ronaldo scored twice against Al Gharafa, another Qatari squad, the last time out.On Friday, he added two more goals in the Saudi Pro League.
AL NASSR VS AL SADD: WHY IS RONALDO NOT PLAYING?
Given how well the team is doing in the Asian Champions League, Stefano Pioli may have made a calculated decision by leaving Ronaldo out of the matchday roster. No injuries have been recorded for the forward as of yet.
Al Nassr has already advanced to the competition’s knockout stages after winning four of its five games and drawing one. The club has won four of its previous five games across all competitions, demonstrating its recent success.
In his four AFC Champions League Elite appearances this season, Ronaldo has scored four goals.
However, the Al Nassr captain was left off of Stefano Pioli’s matchday squad for Al Sadd’s visit.
Ronaldo, who has 15 goals in 18 club games this season, was seen seated with his partner Georgina Rodriguez and mother Dolores Aveiro at Al Awwal Park.
Akram Afif, the current AFC Player of the Year, gave Al Sadd the lead eight minutes into the second half when he sprinted from the halfway line onto a long pass.
Afif finished low past Brazil’s goalie Bento, surpassing defender Mohammed Al Fatil.
On the 80th minute, Romain Saiss, a defender for Al Sadd, diverted Brazilian teenager Wesley’s low cross into his own goal, giving Al Nassr the equaliser.
But in the 99th minute, replacement Adam Ounas scored from the penalty spot after Afif was tripped within the home team’s penalty area, leaving Al Nassr with a severe sting in their tail.
After the defeat, Al Nassr stays in third place in the Western Region group stage, while Al Sadd advances to fourth place and guarantees a spot in the round of 16.
Despite giving up their perfect record in this year’s tournament, fellow Saudi team Al Ahli is still atop the standings after a double from Ivan Toney salvaged a 2-2 draw with Esteghlal of Iran in Jeddah.
The forward of England gave the home team two equalisers from penalty spots, the first deep into injury time in the first half and the second in the 86th minute.. Five minutes prior, Esteghlal had Mohammed Hossein Eslami sent off.
After his double against Asian champions Al Ain last week, it was Toney’s second straight Champions League Elite encounter in which he scored twice.