Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Al Nassr eases into AFC Champions League quarters football news

Cristiano Ronaldo fired Al Nassr into the Asian Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday as the Saudi Arabian side beat domestic rivals Al Faha 2-0 to make it 3-0 on aggregate. Nassr, who won last week’s first leg 1-0 thanks to Ronaldo’s goal nine minutes from time, were the better team at Al Awal Park and took the lead on 17 minutes through Portuguese winger Otavio. The former Porto star, who joined Nasr last summer, fired from close range to score in his second consecutive game for the club.

It looked as if his compatriot Ronaldo would personally suffer a disappointing night, with the Portugal captain having several penalty appeals rejected and, not long into the second half, having a goal disallowed for offside. given.

Earlier this month Ronaldo, 39, was also booked in first-half stoppage time for a late challenge, after Nasr manager Luis Castro was given a yellow card for protesting too loudly at the decision.

However, the final decision would be that of Nasr’s captain when, four minutes from time, he caught another Marcelo Brozovic through ball.

FEHA goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic really should have dealt with the situation, but could only keep out the onrushing Ronaldo with his effort. The ball fell invitingly for Ronaldo to tap into the empty net.

It was the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward’s 10th goal in his last nine games for Nassr. Ronaldo, a five-time winner of the UEFA Champions League, is competing in its Asian counterpart for the first time.

In the other West Asian tie of the night, 2003 champions Al Ain came from a goal down to Nassaf Qarshi on home soil to win 2–1 in stoppage time and book their place in the quarter-finals.

The United Arab Emirates team, the only Emirati club to win the trophy, were a goal behind five minutes into the second half at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium when they failed to deal with an inswinging corner, allowing Nassaf forward Bobur Abdikholikov to head the ball forward. Was forced to increase. Six yard box. Teammate Akmal Mozgovoy finished at the far post.

With last week’s first leg in Qarshi ending goalless, Uzbekistan stole their way into the last eight.

Yet it took only four minutes for Al Ain to equalise. Togo striker Kodjo Laba kept his eye to acrobatically volley home a looping loose ball in the Nassaf penalty area.

However, the play was saved for the second minute of injury time. Nassaf goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov somehow managed to deliver a cross to Sofian Rahimi from the left. The Al Ain playmaker took a touch before completing his effort to put the home side 2–1 on aggregate.

Al Ain and Nassr, semi-finalists after their last two Champions League campaigns, will meet over two legs next month for a place in the last four.

– Cavell had a good start –
Former Australia star Harry Kewell defeated Bangkok United 1–0 in his first home game to send Japan’s Yokohama F-Marino into the quarter-finals with a 3–2 aggregate win.

Brazilian Anderson Lopez converted a penalty late in extra time to send Yokohama through to the last eight to meet China’s Shandong Taishan.

“It was difficult but when you get to the last eight and create something special for the club it makes it worthwhile,” Kewell said.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Ulsan also reached the quarter-finals after beating Japan’s Ventforet Kofu 2-1 and will play fellow South Koreans Jeonbuk with a 5-1 aggregate win.

Former Leeds and Liverpool forward Kewell left his job as first-team coach at Scottish champions Celtic to take the reins at Yokohama last month.

Kewell won 58 caps for Australia, appearing at two World Cups and winning the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)