FOOTBALL – Adam Ounas scored from the penalty spot in the ninth minute of time added on at the end of the second half as Al Sadd SC edged Al Nassr Club 2-1 to book their AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 knockout stage last night.
The win took Qatar’s Al Sadd up to 12 points with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, who are already through, one ahead after suffering the first defeat of their campaign.
Having already secured their passage into the Round of 16, Al Nassr started the match without talismanic captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has netted 15 goals for the Riyadh-based side in all competitions this season .
The home side had a glimpse at goal in the third minute when Angelo teed up Talisca for a shot from just above the box, but the Brazilian ballooned his effort.
Al Sadd survived another scare in the 15th minute when Ali Lajami sent a high lob over the defensive line, with Meshaal Barsham failing to hold on to the ball but Romain Saiss came to his keeper’s rescue with a goal line clearance.
The Qatari side burst into life two minutes later when Marcelo Brozovic’s stray pass landed at the feet of Cristo Gonzalez, only for the Spanish forward to hit his low effort right into Al Nassr keeper Bento’s clutches.
Al Nassr responded immediately through a counter-attacking move with Angelo cutting through the middle before laying the ball for Mane, who set up Talisca but his shot from inside the box bounced off the right post.
Both sides continued with their forays with Angelo’s shot from distance just missing the target in the 29th minute while Al Sadd’s Akram Afif sent his shot wide after Gonzalez’s set-up.
Talisca was again denied in the 38th minute after collecting Sultan Al Ghannam’s layoff and aiming for the bottom right corner, with Barsham producing a brilliant save to keep the tie level heading into the break.
Al Sadd, needing a win to confirm their knockout stage ticket, almost caught Al Nassr napping seconds after the restart after Afif’s long ball cleared the path for Gonzales, who pulled his effort just wide of the left post.
The Qatari side, however, found the opening with their next foray as a cross by Gonzales from his own half was perfectly collected by Afif, who then surged forward to slot home in the 53rd minute.
Stunned by Al Sadd’s opener, Al Nassr upped their tempo and Barsham was forced into making a save from Aymeric Laporte’s header in the 68th minute while Sadio Mane hit the right post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box three minutes later.
As Al Sadd defended desperately, Barsham had to be at his best to stop Angelo’s effort from close range in the 78th minute but the shotstopper was finally beaten two minutes later after Saiss turned Wesley’s stinging shot into his own net.
As Al Nassr went in search of the winner, Al Sadd broke through Afif and the reigning AFC Asian Player of the Year’s pace proved too much for Mohammed Al Fatil, who brought the winger down with Ounas burying the resulting spot-kick to seal the points and knockout stage qualification.
Meanwhile, Al Ahli were denied a sixth consecutive win in the league yesterday with Ivan Toney scoring twice from the penalty spot to earn the hosts a 2-2 draw with Iran’s Esteghlal, who played out the closing stages with 10 men.
The Englishman cancelled out Raphael Silva’s 42nd minute opener for Esteghlal before equalising again four minutes from time after Mohammad Hossein Eslami had restored the lead for the club from Tehran in the 52nd minute.
Eslami was sent off in the 81st minute for a foul on Saad Yaslam and Esteghlal had to survive a frantic finish that also saw Feras Al Brikan’s injury time strike for the home side ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
UAE’s Al Wasl FC missed an opportunity to book their knockout stage berth after they were held 1-1 by Al Rayyan SC of Qatar.
The result takes Al Wasl up to 11 points with Al Rayyan – on five – still in the hunt.
When the competition resumes in February, Al Wasl will meet Al Nassr with Al Rayyan taking on UAE’ Al Ain FC.
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