Ronaldo fires blank on Asian Champions League debut but Al Nassr pick win
Football
Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates came together with Al-Nassr fans to commemorate their triumph in the AFC Champions League against Istiqlol Dushanbe on Monday evening.
Ronaldo's goal and Anderson Talisca's brace secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory for the Knights of Najd over the Tajikistani side at Al-Awwal Park.
Despite the final score appearing comfortable, Cristiano and his teammates faced a challenging encounter, having to dig deep to secure consecutive wins in the competition.
For context, Al-Nassr were on the brink of defeat with less than 35 minutes remaining on the clock until their captain and talisman, Ronaldo, produced a splendid chipped goal.
Ronaldo fires blank on Asian Champions League debut but Al Nassr pick win
FootballHis goal ignited a thrilling comeback as Talisca netted two quickfire goals within five minutes, extending the Riyadh-based giants' winning streak to 10 matches, as reported by Sporting News.
Following the match, Al-Nassr, led by the 38-year-old Ronaldo, approached the fans to celebrate their latest victory, continuing a tradition for this season.
In a coordinated manner, the players participated in the Viking Clap chant, made famous by the Iceland national team alongside their fanbase, who were vociferous throughout the tie.
Relatedly, Sports Brief reported on Cristiano Ronaldo securing his inaugural goal in the AFC Champions League during the match against Istiqlol Dushanbe at Al-Awwal Park.
Ronaldo had previously been unable to find the net in his first appearance in Asia's counterpart to the UEFA Champions League, as Al-Nassr narrowly triumphed over Iranian club Persepolis 2-0 in their group opener.
Cristiano Ronaldo achieves new record after AFC Champions League debut with Al Nassr
FootballThe seasoned forward exhibited his skill by cleverly chipping the ball into the net from an exceedingly tight angle.
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the veteran forward led Al-Nassr to a remarkable comeback triumph against Istiqlol Dushanbe in their second AFC Champions League group match on October 2.
Ronaldo, who had been in exceptional form since the beginning of the season, scored his inaugural goal in Asia's premier club competition. Anderson Talisca then completed the turnaround with a brace at the Al-Awwal Park.
The 3-1 victory solidified Al-Nassr's position at the top of Group E with six points, establishing a three-point lead over second-placed Persepolis.