Cristiano Ronaldo Powers Al Nassr To Slim Win Against Al Fayha in AFC Champions League Knockout Game

• Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Al-Nassr to victory in the AFC Champions League
• His goal in the second half handed them a 1-0 win against Al Fayha
• It also marked his first goal in 2024 on his 1000th club career appearance

Cristiano Ronaldo proved to be the defining factor in the encounter between Al-Nassr and Al Fayha, as the former clinched a narrow victory in the first leg of their AFC Champions League round of 16 clash.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star sealed the win with a late goal in the second half, granting the Knights of Najd a slender lead heading into the second leg on Wednesday, February 21.

How did the game pan out?

As anticipated, Ronaldo's Al-Nassr dominated proceedings from the outset, controlling possession while the home side seemed content to allow their opponents to dictate the tempo early in the match.

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Despite their dominance in possession, Al-Nassr struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, thwarted by a resilient Al Fayha defence that held firm against the star-studded Riyadh club.

Just before halftime, Ronaldo had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock, but his effort was expertly saved by Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

In the second half, Al-Nassr intensified their attack, with defender Aymeric Laporte coming close with a header from a corner kick ten minutes after the break.

Ronaldo gives Al-Nassr slender advantage

Ronaldo also threatened with a header, only to be denied by Stojkovic, who seemed determined to keep the Portuguese phenom and his teammates at bay.

However, the 39-year-old rose to the occasion once more in the 81st minute, capitalising on a loose ball in the box and slotting home a right-footed shot from close range, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

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His decisive goal proved to be the winner as Al-Nassr held on to secure a crucial 1-0 victory, setting the stage for an intriguing second leg as they aim to advance to the next round of the AFC Champions League.

Ronaldo sets new record

In the same game, Sports Brief reported that Ronaldo reached a remarkable milestone in his illustrious football career, spanning over two decades.

This achievement came during Al-Nassr's recent AFC Champions League match against Al Fayha on February 14th, coincidentally on Valentine's Day.

Despite his team's recent defeat to Al Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup, CR7 celebrated his 1000th club appearance, a significant landmark in his career.