Ronaldo Leads Al Nassr: Cristiano Ronaldo once again proved decisive as Al Nassr stormed into the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League with a commanding 4-1 victory over Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday. With this result, Al Nassr became the third Saudi Arabian club to reach the final four of the continent’s most prestigious club tournament.
The day had already been bright for Saudi football, as Al Ahli had earlier sealed a 3-0 victory over Thailand’s Buriram United at King Abdullah Sports City, with Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino both finding the net. However, Ronaldo’s performance stole the headlines, as he continued his hunt for a first major trophy with Al Nassr.
Ronaldo Leads Al Nassr to Glory With Dominant 4-1 Win Against Yokohama
In a game played at high intensity, Ronaldo was involved right from the outset. In the opening exchanges, he smartly back-heeled Marcelo Brozovic’s pass, creating an early opportunity for the Croatian midfielder. However, Yokohama’s goalkeeper Park Il-gyu was alert and managed to deny Brozovic’s shot.
Yokohama, last season’s runners-up, had been going through turbulent times after the recent departure of coach Steve Holland. Despite flashes of promise, they struggled to contain Al Nassr’s firepower. Al Nassr’s winter signing, Jhon Duran, missed an early chance to open the scoring but soon made amends.
In the 27th minute, Duran capitalized on a defensive blunder by Thomas Deng, who accidentally hit his own post while trying to clear Sadio Mane’s cross. Duran reacted quickest, tapping in the rebound to give Al Nassr the lead.
Just four minutes later, Al Nassr doubled their advantage through Mane. A slick counter-attack saw Otavio deliver a precise pass to the Senegalese forward, who fired low into the near post, leaving Park helpless.
Ronaldo, who has been in sparkling form throughout the season, then added his name to the scoresheet. Seven minutes before halftime, a deflected shot from Brozovic caused confusion in Yokohama’s defense, and Park’s weak parry allowed Ronaldo to smash home a volley from close range. It was a typical poacher’s finish from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, showcasing his instinct and positioning.
The Portuguese superstar has now scored eight goals in seven Champions League appearances this season, just one behind the competition’s joint-top scorers Riyad Mahrez, Salem Al-Dawsari, Anderson, and Jasir Asani.
Al Nassr continued their relentless pressure after the break. Duran netted his second goal of the evening in the 49th minute, following another counter-attack orchestrated by Ronaldo. After a save from Park, Duran was on hand to slot the rebound home, putting the result beyond doubt at 4-0.
Yokohama managed a consolation goal three minutes later, as Kota Watanabe drilled a low shot past Al Nassr’s Brazilian goalkeeper Bento. However, any hopes of a dramatic comeback were dashed when Watanabe was shown a second yellow card, reducing Yokohama to ten men.
Ronaldo was substituted in the 66th minute by manager Stefano Pioli, clearly preserving his star player for the upcoming crucial semi-final tie. The victory not only highlighted Al Nassr’s attacking power but also their growing maturity on the continental stage.
Al Nassr will next face the winner of the clash between Qatar’s Al Sadd and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale. Meanwhile, the other semi-final will see an all-Saudi battle between Al Hilal and Al Ahli, promising even more drama in this year’s Asian Champions League.
