FOOTBALL – Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr inflicted a crushing 5-1 defeat on Al Ain in the Asian Champions League Elite in Riyadh yesterday that leaves the title-holders’ hopes of advancing to the last 16 in jeopardy.
The win was Al Nassr’s third in four matches in the league phase of the continental championship and moves Stefano Pioli’s side up to third and within two points of compatriots Al Hilal and Al Ahli, who lead the standings at the halfway point.
The top eight in the 12-team groups in both west and east Asia advance to the last 16 in March and Al Ain are in danger of missing out on a place in the knockout rounds.
Hernan Crespo’s side have picked up a solitary point in their four games so far and will need a significant turnaround if they are to climb off the bottom of the table in the second half of the league phase.
Al Rayyan climbed off the bottom of the table earlier in the evening when the Qatari side picked up their first points of the campaign with a 1-0 win over Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan.
A long punt forward from near the halfway line in the 51st minute by Hazem Shehata, intended for the head of Brazilian forward Roger Guedes, flew over goalkeeper Vladimir Nazarov and into the top corner to give Al Rayyan victory.
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