Cristiano Ronaldo made a memorable debut in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), scoring as Al Nassr secured a 2-1 victory over Al Rayyan at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
After missing the team’s opening match in the ACLE due to a viral infection, Ronaldo quickly demonstrated his sharpness, threatening the Al Rayyan goal twice within the first 15 minutes. However, he was thwarted by Brazilian goalkeeper Paolo Victor, who remained a formidable presence until Sadio Mané finally broke through with a spectacular flying header from Sultan Al-Ghannam’s cross during first-half stoppage time.
The second half saw Al Rayyan adopt a more disciplined defensive approach, successfully limiting Al Nassr’s opportunities and forcing the home side into a more narrow style of play. Ronaldo appeared to have doubled the lead just two minutes after the restart when he directed a through ball into the net, only to have the goal disallowed for offside following a review by the VAR.
Nearly half an hour later, Ronaldo found his moment to shine. Collecting the ball on the right side, he unleashed a stunning left-footed curler into the net, much to the delight of the home crowd. The goal was particularly poignant for the Portuguese superstar, as he dedicated it to his father, who would have celebrated his 71st birthday on September 30.
As the match approached its conclusion, Al Rayyan launched a late attack against the run of play. Achraf Bencharki maneuvered along the left flank and delivered a low cross to Roger Guedes, who finished decisively in the 87th minute to bring Rayyan back into contention. The visitors pressed for an equalizer, but Al Nassr’s goalkeeper, Bento, stood firm, thwarting their efforts and preserving the lead.
With this victory, Al Nassr climbed to third place in the group standings, while Al Rayyan slipped to second from the bottom. Al Nassr will now focus on the Saudi Pro League as they prepare to host Al Orobah in four days.
