Cristiano Ronaldo converted a crucial penalty, and Jhon Duran delivered an impressive brace as Al Nassr secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Esteghlal, booking their spot in the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals on Monday night.
Ronaldo, the Al Nassr captain, had been rested for last week’s goalless first-leg draw in Iran but made a powerful return to lead his side at Al Awwal Park. His influence was felt early as he confidently converted a penalty midway through the first half, reinforcing his reputation as a big-game player.
Al Nassr, one of three Saudi Arabian teams that dominated the west region’s group stage, wasted no time in asserting control. They took the lead just nine minutes into the match in Riyadh when Duran, a winter signing from Aston Villa, capitalized on a loose ball at the right edge of the Esteghlal penalty area. The Colombian striker executed a sublime chip over goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini, marking his first-ever goal in the competition.
Al Nassr extended their advantage in the 27th minute after Sadio Mané, a UEFA Champions League winner with Liverpool, was fouled inside the Esteghlal box by midfielder Zobeir Niknafs. Ronaldo stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the center of the net, taking his goal tally in this year’s Champions League Elite to seven goals in six appearances. The Portuguese icon remains the top scorer in this season’s Saudi Pro League with 18 goals to his name.
Esteghlal’s night went from bad to worse when they were reduced to 10 men just before halftime. Mehran Ahmadi, attempting to shield the ball, inadvertently struck Al Nassr defender Mohammed Al Fatil in the face. After VAR review, his yellow card was upgraded to a second booking, leading to his dismissal.
Al Nassr nearly added a third goal at the start of the second half. Duran had an effort saved before Ayman Yahya’s rebound was cleared off the line. Minutes later, Duran struck the crossbar with a thunderous long-range shot.
However, the Al Nassr forward was not to be denied his second goal. He sealed the win by driving a low shot inside the near post after being set up by former Chelsea winger Angelo.
In Monday’s other fixture, two-time Asian champions Al Sadd advanced to the last eight with a 4-2 aggregate win over UAE champions Al Wasl. After a 1-1 first-leg draw in Dubai, the visitors struck early through Fabio Lima, only for Al Sadd to respond with three goals in a 10-minute blitz, courtesy of Mostafa Meshaal, Youcef Atal, and reigning Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif.