In Riyadh, Cristiano Ronaldo displayed his prowess as Al-Nassr, hailing from the Saudi Pro League, navigated through a tense encounter in the Asian Champions League on Monday. Initially falling behind to Tajikistan’s Istiklol, Senin Sebai seized an opportunity on the break to give the Dushanbe-based club the lead with a mere minute remaining in the first half. Istiklol admirably held their ground against ceaseless pressure until Ronaldo equalized in the 66th minute with an artfully executed clipped finish.
Subsequently, Anderson Talisca elevated the Saudi outfit to the lead six minutes later with a well-timed header. The Brazilian maestro sealed the deal with 13 minutes remaining, calmly stroking a low shot into the corner of the net. This triumph marked Al-Nassr’s second consecutive victory in the group stage of the competition, propelling Luis Castro’s side to a commanding three-point lead atop Group ‘E’.
In another Group ‘E’ clash, Iran’s Persepolis secured second place with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Qatar’s Al Duhail. Omid Alishah was the hero, notching the lone goal in the 63rd minute, granting the 2018 and 2020 runners-up their maiden victory of the campaign.
However, Group ‘C’ witnessed unusual circumstances as Al-Ittihad’s scheduled match against Iran’s Sepahan was abruptly called off. The Saudi club’s players refused to depart their dressing room due to the presence of a statue honoring the late Iranian General Qasem Soleimani at the entrance to the pitch. The Asian Football Confederation cited “unanticipated and unforeseen circumstances” for the game’s cancellation, originally slated to be held at Isfahan’s Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium.
Meanwhile, in the same group, Air Force Club of Iraq triumphed 2-1 over Uzbekistan’s AGMK. Ali Jasim notched his third goal in two Asian Champions League games, granting the Iraqis a swift lead just two minutes into the match. Sanzhar Tursunov’s unfortunate own goal compounded AGMK’s woes. Although Siavash Haghnazari managed to pull one back for AGMK with nine minutes remaining, Air Force Club clung to their lead, securing four points and staying one step ahead of Al-Ittihad in the group standings.
Turning to Group ‘B’, Uzbekistan’s Nasaf ascended to the top spot, securing their second consecutive victory in a 3-1 win against Qatar’s Al Sadd. Azizbek Amonov was the hero with a brace, guiding Ruzikul Berdiev’s team to a two-point lead over Sharjah from the United Arab Emirates. Sharjah claimed victory over Jordan’s Al-Faisaly, thanks to Moussa Marega’s 20th-minute goal, a former Asian Champions League champion with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in 2021.
It’s worth noting that the top finishers in each of the ten groups will advance to the last 16, alongside the three second-placed teams with the most impressive records from both the western and eastern sections of the competition. This sets the stage for an exciting journey in the Asian Champions League, with football enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the unfolding drama. Published in Dawn on October 4th, 2023.
