Having already secured a spot in the knockout stages, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr experienced their first defeat in this year’s Asian Champions League Elite, losing 2-1 to Qatar’s Al Sadd.
Ronaldo was rested for the match in Riyadh following his team’s advance last week. With three rounds of the group phase left, Ronaldo previously scored twice against Al Gharafa, another Qatari team, and netted a double again in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
Coach Stefano Pioli did not include the Al Nassr captain in the matchday squad for Al Sadd’s visit. Ronaldo, with 15 goals in 18 appearances this season, was at Al Awwal Park with his mother, Dolores Aveiro, and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez.
Al Sadd’s Akram Afif, the reigning AFC Player of the Year, broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half. Afif sprinted from the halfway line onto a long pass, outpaced defender Mohammed Al Fatil, and finished low past Brazil’s goalkeeper Bento.
Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Double Leads Al Nassr Nears Quarterfinals in AFC Champions League
Al Nassr equalized in the 80th minute when Brazilian youngster Wesley’s low cross was accidentally turned into his net by Al Sadd defender Romain Saiss. However, the match had a dramatic conclusion when Afif drew a foul inside the penalty area, and substitute Adam Ounas scored from the penalty spot in the 99th minute.
Despite the loss, Al Nassr remains third in the Western Region group stage, while Al Sadd’s victory moves them into fourth, securing a last-16 spot. The top eight teams advance to the knockout stages.
Al Nassr lost to Al Sadd in the ACL due to Cristino Ronaldo was rested. i don’t think he would have enjoyed the game from the stands even with his family.May be a strategic move by Al Nassr as he’s been in stellar form lately!