Portuguese internationals scored in another triumph for Luís Castro’s team
The ease that Al Nassr had throughout the game with Al Fayha are not reflected by the result (2-0). After already winning 1-0 in the first leg, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team progressed calmly in the Asian Champions League.
Otávio (17′) was the first to find the net with a header that went through the legs of Stojkovic (ex-Sporting goalkeeper). The former FC Porto player took advantage of Alkhaibari’s excellent cross to score for the second game in a row.
Midfielder ahead of Luís Castro and Cristiano Ronaldo’s team on the scoreboard
For his part, Cristiano Ronaldo was somewhat off, he saw a yellow card, but he ended up scoring towards the end (86′), taking advantage of a childish mistake by Stojkovic to score his 33rd goal of the season.
Portuguese international took advantage of Vladimir Stojkovic’s false start
Al Fayha’s performance was almost unbelievable, given the apathy that the entire team and the coach demonstrated. He only made one (mismatched) shot, ended up with 28% possession of the ball and, above all, never showed any desire to fight for the tie.
With this opponent’s inertia and after winning early in the match, Al Nassr managed the match to their liking.
Al Nassr will face Al Ain, from the United Arab Emirates, in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League. The games will take place on March 4th and 11th.
Remember the incidents of the match:
Final match: Al Nassr 2-0 Al Fayha
Clear victory for Luís Castro’s team, who easily beat an inert opponent. Goals came from the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Otávio.
RONALDO FINALLY SCORES
86′ – Brozovic launches Ronaldo, Stojkovic gets to the ball first, but misses the cut in a childish way and the Portuguese star only had to shoot into an empty goal to score the 33rd goal of the season.
84′ – What a failure from Sadio Mané! Completely isolated against Stojkovic, the Senegalese could score or pass to Cristiano Ronaldo. Instead, he shot weakly and wide of the goal.
76′ – The inertia of Al Fayha’s players on the field in this second half is impressive. Despite Al Nassr being the favorites to win, Vuk Rasovi’s team showed no desire to fight for the result.
70′ – With the game practically decided, Al Nassr fans make their voices heard.
66′ – Dangerous shot from Mané, the first time the Senegalese truly appears on the field.
53′ – Ronaldo shoots for a good save by Stojkovic.
52′ – Al Fayha remains very apathetic on the field. Afraid of exposing themselves too far behind, they don’t take risks in attack, despite needing two goals to tie the tie.
48′ – Ronaldo scores the goal but was offside. Brozovic isolated Ronaldo, who then passed Stojkovic, but the move was well canceled.
PART 2 BEGINS!
Intervalo: Al Nassr 1-0 Al Fayha
Game dominated almost entirely by Al Nassr, despite Ronaldo being uninspired. Al Fayha can barely attack and will have great difficulty recovering from the two-goal deficit they have in the tie.
45+1′ – Ronaldo receives a yellow card. He tried to fight for the ball, but arrived late and hit Khalaf in the ankle. The player and Luís Castro complained and shouted at the referee and the coach also ended up seeing the card.
45′ – Fashion Sakala takes a dangerous shot! It was the first shot of the match for Al Fayha and it didn’t go far from Al Nassr’s goal.
42′ – First corner for Al Fayha in the match, but the team doesn’t take advantage of it and continues without finding the goal.
37 ‘ – Cristiano Ronaldo heads to the post, but the shot had already been invalidated due to a foul in the play.
The GOAT wasn’t happy with ref as he believes he should’ve been awarded a penalty for that earlier challenge before the fans start chanting his name…
CRISTIANO RONALDO
CRISTIANO RONALDO
CRISTIANO RONALDO
– Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) February 21, 2024
30′ – Al Nassr feels less pressure and the players move freely on the field, completely in control of the match. When attacking, Al Fayha uses few men and gives the idea that only a counterattack or an opponent error can result in a draw.
19′ – Ronaldo falls in the area, but the referee does not award a penalty, to the Portuguese’s despair. Then, Otávio receives a yellow card after a harsh foul.
ÓTAVIO DOES THE FIRST!
17′ – Excellent movement by Otávio, as he stepped into the penalty area and headed through Stojkovic’s legs. Alkhaibari’s cross was millimetric.
Midfielder ahead of Luís Castro and Cristiano Ronaldo’s team on the scoreboard
15′ – Al Nassr has 80% ball possession in this phase. In this phase, Al Fayha is content to keep the mark at zeros.
9′ – Ronaldo fails to combine with Mané. Already in the penalty area, the striker preferred to head backwards, with the ball not reaching the Senegalese.
7′ – Al Nassr wants to increase their lead in the tie and wants to score first. Very pressing on the ball from the opponent, who can only play with counterattacks led by speedsters Henry Onyekuru and Fashion Sakala.
THE MATCH STARTS – AL NASSR COMES OUT TO PLAY
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The winner of this match will face, in the quarter-finals, the Al-Ain team, from the United Arab Emirates.
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Talisca is a major loss for Al Nassr. Luís Castro chose to leave the Brazilian out so as not to exceed the limit of six foreign players in the squad. Thus, the Portuguese coach chose Ronaldo, Otávio, Brozovic, Laporte, Aziz Behich and Sadio Mané.
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On Al Fayha’s side, the starting goalkeeper is Vladimir Stojkovic, who was linked to Sporting from 2007 until 2011.
There are already eleven!
Equipa do Al Nassr:
Al Fayha Equipment: Vladimir Stojković, Mokher Al-Rashidi, Al Khalaf, Al-Showaish, Al Baqawi; Al-Safri, Gojko Cimirot; Fashion Sakala, Al Harthi, Henry Onyekuru; Anthony, Nwakaeme.
Good afternoon! You can watch the 2nd leg of the round of 16 of the Asian Champions League here. Cristiano Ronaldo and Otávio are looking to take advantage of the 1st leg to move forward in the competition.
Goal in the 81st minute sealed the advantage in the tie