In a remarkable debut in the Asian Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo played a pivotal role in Al Nassr’s 2-0 triumph over 10-man Persepolis in Iran on Tuesday night. The illustrious five-time Ballon d’Or winner, renowned for his five UEFA Champions League titles, assumed the captaincy of the Saudi Arabian squad, securing an initial three points in Group E.
The encounter unfolded at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, devoid of spectators. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had imposed a one-game ban on Persepolis supporters dating back to 2021, creating an atmosphere conducive to Al Nassr’s success. Two goals in the second half sealed the victory for Al Nassr – one courtesy of a Danial Esmaeilifar own goal and another from a splendid strike by defender Mohammed Qassem.
This event marked a significant milestone as it was the first instance of a Saudi club competing in Iran since 2016. The AFC brokered a “ground-breaking agreement” earlier this month between the two nations’ football federations, paving the way for this historic encounter.
Despite Ronaldo’s age of 38, he remained a prominent figure throughout the match, with two close attempts in the first half. His initial powerful header, delivered from close range, found Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand’s gloves, causing Ronaldo visible frustration as the ball met the post.
The turning point came at the start of the second half when Persepolis midfielder Milad Sarlak received a second yellow card, primarily for an unintentional incident that appeared to involve stepping on Ronaldo’s boot.
Ronaldo played a crucial role in Al Nassr’s opening goal just after the hour mark, initiating the sequence leading to Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s shot, which ricocheted off Persepolis full-back Esmaeilifar and found the back of the net.
Ten minutes later, Al Nassr’s left-back, Mohammed Qassem, surged down the left flank and unleashed a high shot beyond Beiranvand’s reach, doubling the visiting team’s lead and securing the points.
In the other match of the group, Iran’s Istiklol and Qatari giants Al Duhail battled to a goalless draw in Dushanbe.
In Group A, 2003 champions Al Ain displayed an impressive performance with a 3-0 victory against Pakhtakor in Tashkent. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan’s Ahal secured a 1-0 win against Saudi opponents Al Fayha, marking only their second victory in the competition.
In the East Asian segment, South Korea’s Incheon United initiated their Group G campaign with a 4-2 victory over J.League champions Yokohama F Marinos in Japan. In the same group, Chinese Super League outfit Shandong Taishan secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory in Manila against Kaya-FC Iloilo from the Philippines.
In Group I, South Korean champions Ulsan Hyundai triumphed at home with a 3-1 victory over Thailand’s BG Pathum United. Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale secured a 1-0 win in Malaysia against Johor Darul Ta’zim.
The group stage, reinstated to a home-and-away format for the first time since early 2020, will continue until mid-December. The top pool winners and the six best second-placed teams will advance to the knockout rounds, commencing in February, with the final taking place across two legs in May.
By Agence France Presse
