Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr was ousted from the Asian Champions League quarterfinals despite a valiant fightback in the second leg against Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates. The match, held in Riyadh, saw Al-Nassr overcome a first-leg deficit with a 4-3 win, only to fall short in the penalty shootout, losing 3-1.
The encounter was a rollercoaster from start to finish. Al-Nassr, looking to overturn a 1-0 loss from the first leg, found themselves in a deeper hole as Al-Ain, through Moroccan international Soufiane Rahimi, extended their overall lead to 3-0 in the first half. Rahimi, replicating his goal-scoring form from the first leg, found the net twice, showcasing clinical finishing.
However, just before the halftime whistle, Abdulrahman Ghareeb ignited hopes of a comeback for Al-Nassr with a crucial goal. The momentum further shifted when Al-Ain’s goalkeeper Khalid Eisa unfortunately scored an own goal, making it 2-2 on the night and setting the stage for a gripping second half.
As the match progressed, Ronaldo, despite missing several chances including a glaring miss from just two meters out, showed his resilience. It was former Manchester United defender Alex Telles who then stepped up, scoring for Al-Nassr with 18 minutes left in regulation time, pushing the match into extra time.
Al-Ain briefly regained the lead in extra time through Sultan Al Shamsi, but Ronaldo, ever the protagonist, equalized from the penalty spot with just two minutes remaining, leveling the aggregate score at 4-4. Unfortunately for Al-Nassr, the subsequent penalty shootout saw them falter, with Ronaldo being the lone scorer for his side.
The result was a heartbreaker for Ronaldo and Al-Nassr, who showed commendable spirit to fight back but ultimately couldn’t secure their spot in the semifinals. Al-Ain’s victory sets up another encounter with Saudi Arabian giants, as they are slated to face the winner of the tie between four-time champions Al-Hilal and two-time champions Al-Ittihad.
Elsewhere in the tournament, the eastern zone quarterfinals are poised intriguingly with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Ulsan Hyundai Motors locked at 1-1 after their first leg, and Yokohama F. Marinos holding a slim 2-1 lead over Shandong Taishan.
The dramatic exit of Al-Nassr underscores the unpredictable nature of football, where not even the star power of Cristiano Ronaldo can guarantee success. As the Asian Champions League moves towards its climax, the excitement and drama are only expected to intensify.