Ronaldo's disappointment after Al-Nasr was eliminated from the AFC Champions League quarter-finals by Al-Ain of the UAE (Reuters)
Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League, after defeating its host Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia 3-1 on penalties, after a 3-3 draw, on Monday evening, in the second leg of the tournament’s quarter-finals.
Al Ain had won the first leg 1-0, while Al-Nasr won 4-3 in the return match after extra time, then resorted to penalty kicks, which made Al Ain smile with a 3-1 victory.
In the semi-finals, Al Ain will face the winner of the match between Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia and its compatriot and its guest, Al-Hilal, later today, Tuesday, as the first-leg match ended with a 2-0 victory for Al-Hilal.
Al Ain took the lead in the 28th minute through Sufyan Rahimi, before the same player succeeded in scoring the second goal in the last minute of the first half.
⚽️🔥 Sufyan Rahimi scores the second goal for himself and his team Al Ain #AFC_Champions_League |
#Al-Nasr_Al-Ain #AFCChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/3Ce9wjzNpo
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 11, 2024
Sufyan Rahimi opens the scoring for Al Ain with a goal confirmed by VAR #AFC_Champions_League |
#Al-Nasr_Al-Ain #AFCChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/q2YbLeajue
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 11, 2024
In the fifth minute of stoppage time for the first half, Abdel Rahman Gharib scored the goal to reduce the difference, giving his team hope of returning to the match.
🔥⚽️ Al-Nasr reduces the difference through Abdul Rahman Gharib
✍️ Who do you think bears responsibility for the goal? #AFC_Champions_League |
#Al-Nasr_Al-Ain #AFCChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/wYsdu4HbHe
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 11, 2024
Al-Nasr succeeded in what it wanted, after Al-Ain goalkeeper Khaled Issa made a mistake and caused a goal that scored his team's net in the 51st minute. Then the comeback was completed with a third goal from Alex Telles in the 72nd minute, so two additional periods were needed.
⚽️🔥 Al-Nasr ignites the match and adjusts the result #AFC_Champions_League |
#Al-Nasr_Al-Ain #AFCChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/4q6h6PStbQ
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 11, 2024
Al-Nasr suffered a shortage in its ranks, after its player Ayman Yahya was sent off in the 98th minute of the first extra period.
In the 103rd minute of the first extra period, Al Ain scored the third goal through Sultan Al Shamsi, but Al Nassr did not surrender and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the fourth goal from a penalty kick in the 118th minute, so penalty kicks were resorted to.
⚽️🔥 Sultan Al Shamsi takes advantage of goalkeeper Raghed Al Najjar’s mistake and scores the third goal for Al Ain
🔢 Total goals from home and away
Al-Nasr 3-4 Al-Ain #AFC_Champions_League |
#Al-Nasr_Al-Ain #AFCChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/QmUZV3P0DT
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 11, 2024
⚽️🔥 Cristiano Ronaldo scores the fourth goal for Al-Nassr from a penalty mark #AFC_Champions_League |
#Al-Nasr_Al-Ain #AFCChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/t4GJMcBOpr
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 11, 2024
The penalty shootout made Al Ain smile, scored by Sufyan Rahimi, Kaku and Sultan Al Shamsi, while only Ronaldo scored for Al Nassr, and Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Telles and Otavio all missed, leaving Al Nassr bid farewell to the tournament and a semi-final ticket going to the Emirati team.
Source: German