Al Ain, the reigning AFC Champions League champions, suffered a heavy defeat on Tuesday night, losing 5-1 to Al Nassr. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo scored the second goal for his team. This victory lifted the Saudi club to third place in the points table for the AFC Champions League Elite West Zone.
Last season, Ronaldo's team had been knocked out in the quarterfinals by this same Al Ain. With this win, Ronaldo and his team avenged that previous defeat.
Al Nassr now has 10 points from three wins in four matches. Al Hilal leads with 12 points, while Al Ahli, also on 10 points, sits in second place due to goal difference.
Al Nassr took the lead in the fifth minute with a goal by Anderson Talisca. Ronaldo scored in the 31st minute. After a long-range shot from Senegalese star Sadio Mané was blocked by Al Ain’s goalkeeper, the ball fell to Ronaldo, who promptly netted it on the rebound.
Al Ain had a chance to pull one back in the 56th minute. Park Young-woo’s shot hit the post and, after bouncing off diving goalkeeper Bento’s back, went into the net as an own goal.
However, Al Ain couldn’t stage a comeback. Al Nassr's 19-year-old Brazilian forward, Wesley, extended the lead with a brilliant finish in the 81st minute. In the fourth minute of added time, Talisca scored another goal, securing Al Nassr's emphatic 5-1 victory.
This defeat has left the Asian champions in a tough spot. With three losses and one draw in four matches, Al Ain now sits at the bottom of the 12-team West group, making it challenging for them to advance to the Round of 16.
