Cristiano Ronaldo watched on from the stands as already-qualified Al Nassr misplaced for the primary time on this 12 months’s Asian Champions League Elite as they had been overwhelmed 2-1 in damage time by Qatar’s Al Sadd on Monday. The Portuguese star, 39, was reportedly rested for the fixture in Riyadh given the Saudi membership had secured their place within the knockout levels final week, with three rounds of the group section remaining. Ronaldo scored twice in opposition to Al Gharafa, one other Qatari facet, final trip, after which netted a double once more within the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
However, the Al Nassr captain was omitted from Stefano Pioli’s matchday squad for the go to of Al Sadd.
Ronaldo, who has 15 objectives in 18 appearances for his membership this season, was noticed at Al Awwal Park sitting alongside his mom Dolores Aveiro and his accomplice Georgina Rodriguez.
Al Sadd took the lead eight minutes into the second half by means of Akram Afif, when the reigning AFC Player of the Year raced from the midway line onto an extended ball.
Afif outpaced defender Mohammed Al Fatil and ending low previous Brazil goalkeeper Bento.
Al Nassr drew stage on 80 minutes, as soon as Brazilian teenager Wesley’s low cross was changed into his personal objective by Al Sadd defender Romain Saiss.
However, there could be an enormous sting within the tail for Al Nassr, when Afif was tripped contained in the hosts’ penalty space and substitute Adam Ounas transformed from the spot within the 99th minute.
With the defeat, Al Nassr keep third within the Western Region group stage, whereas Al Sadd transfer fourth to additionally declare a spot within the final 16.
The prime eight groups qualify for the knockout levels.
Fellow Saudi facet Al Ahli stay prime – even when they surrendered their 100% report on this 12 months’s match – because of an Ivan Toney double that secured a 2-2 draw with Iran’s Esteghlal in Jeddah.
The England striker twice equalised for the hosts from the penalty spot, with the primary coming deep into first-half damage time and the second transformed within the 86th minute. Esteghlal had Mohammed Hossein Eslami despatched off 5 minutes earlier than.
It represented a second successive Champions League Elite match wherein Toney has scored twice following his double final week in opposition to Asian champions Al Ain.
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