Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr to historic Arab Club Champions victory
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Cristiano Ronaldo propels a ten-man Al-Nassr Arab Club to victory with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win.
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Ronaldo celebrates his second goal in the match, on August 12, 2023 (social media)
Cristiano Ronaldo guided a ten-man Al-Nassr to their first Arab Club Champions Cup triumph with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Saudi counterparts Al-Hilal on a momentous at the King Fahd Stadium.
The competition convened elite Arab clubs from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
The star-studded Al-Nassr ensemble, fortified by high-profile acquisitions including Sadio Mane, Seko Fofana, and Marcelo Brozovic, encountered numerous opportunities in the opening half. Yet, the persistent Al-Hilal defense, marshaled by goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais, thwarted their endeavors.
The deadlock finally yielded in the second half, when Al-Hilal's Malcom orchestrated a precise cross, expertly met by fellow Brazilian Michael placing Al-Hilal in the lead. Ironically, Al-Hilal's scoring celebration mimicked Ronaldo's iconic goal-scoring ritual.
Ronaldo, seemingly fueled by the challenge, promptly responded, capitalizing on a delivery from right-back Sultan Al-Ghannam to net the equalizer in the 74th minute.
Read more: Telles joins Ronaldo at Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr
Amidst the action, Al-Nassr faced adversities with two players, defender Abdulelah Al-Amri and substitute Nawaf Boushal, receiving red cards during the second half, leaving them shorthanded. Nevertheless, their resilience persevered, steering the game into extra time.
Ronaldo emerged as the ultimate game-changer, doubling his tally in the first half of extra time by seizing on a rebound from the crossbar, and executing a precise header as the goalkeeper strayed from his line.
