Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr secured a 3-1 victory over Qatar’s Al-Gharafa on Monday evening in the fifth round of the AFC Champions League group stage.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Al-Nassr in the 46th and 64th minutes, with Angelo Gabriel adding another in the 58th minute. Al-Gharafa’s sole goal was netted by Joselu in the 75th minute.
With this result, Al-Nassr secured second place in the West Group with 13 points, trailing leaders Al-Ahly, while Al-Gharafa remained in seventh place with 4 points.
The match began with both teams applying early pressure in an attempt to take the lead.
In the third minute, Cristiano Ronaldo had a shot for Al-Nassr, but it was comfortably saved by Al-Gharafa’s goalkeeper.
Al-Gharafa countered with a threatening attack in the seventh minute, attempting to break through inside the penalty area, but Al-Nassr’s defense successfully cleared the danger.
Al-Nassr came close to opening the scoring in the 19th minute when captain Cristiano Ronaldo unleashed a powerful shot from inside the penalty area, but Al-Gharafa’s goalkeeper made an excellent save.
Just a minute later, Al-Nassr goalkeeper Agustín Rossi (Pinto) denied Al-Gharafa an equalizer, expertly stopping a strong shot from Wajdi Kechrida.
In the 33rd minute, Al-Nassr created another dangerous chance. Marcelo Brozović delivered a precise free-kick cross, which Ronaldo headed narrowly wide of the post.
The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and squandered a golden opportunity in the 44th minute. Ronaldo’s powerful shot from inside the box was deflected by Kechrida, who sent it out for a corner.
In stoppage time, Ronaldo appealed for a penalty after being brought down in the box, but the referee waved play on.
At the start of the second half, Al-Nassr finally broke the deadlock. Cristiano Ronaldo connected with a superb cross from Sultan Al-Ghannam, heading it decisively into the net to give his side the lead.
Ronaldo came close to doubling the advantage in the 57th minute. After receiving a long pass, he skillfully dribbled into the penalty area, but a challenge brought him down as he called for another penalty, which the referee declined.
Al-Nassr doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Brazilian Angelo Gabriel received a precise pass from Otávio. Angelo skillfully dribbled past the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the net with ease.
Just six minutes later, Ronaldo struck again to make it 3-0. Angelo delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, and Ronaldo finished with a beautiful shot, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Al-Gharafa managed to pull one back in the 75th minute when Joselu scored after his initial shot was saved, but he capitalized on the rebound to find the net.
In the 84th minute, Al-Gharafa’s Seydou Sano was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Abdulrahman Ghareeb near the edge of the box.
Sadio Mané came close to extending Al-Nassr’s lead in the 86th minute, taking a free kick from the edge of the area that narrowly sailed over the crossbar.
In the 90th minute, Al-Nassr’s Wesley unleashed a powerful shot, but it just missed the target, leaving the final score at 3-1 in favor of the Saudi side.
