Janice R. Andrews
Cristiano Ronaldo found his form again, leading Al-Nassr to a commanding 5-1 win over Al Ain in the AFC Champions League. Having been goalless for three matches, Ronaldo returned to the scoresheet in style, netting a pivotal goal that solidified Al-Nassr’s unbeaten streak in the competition.
Al-Nassr entered the game determined to break their recent winless spell and quickly seized control. Within just five minutes, former RB Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan kickstarted the action by slicing through Al Ain’s midfield. Passing the ball to Anderson Talisca, Simakan watched as Talisca confidently sent it into the net, giving Al-Nassr an early lead and setting the tone for the match.
By the 30-minute mark, Al-Nassr’s persistence paid off once again. Ronaldo, showcasing his legendary instinct, was in the right spot when a powerful shot was deflected by Al Ain’s goalkeeper, Khalid Eisa. The ball fell to Ronaldo, who calmly tapped it in, ending his goal drought and doubling Al-Nassr’s advantage.
Al-Nassr’s dominance continued to grow. Six minutes after Ronaldo’s goal, a quick one-two between Wesley and Sadio Mane led to another goal as Wesley’s shot deflected off an Al Ain defender. Although Al Ain managed a consolation goal through an own goal by Bento, they couldn’t keep up with Al-Nassr’s pace and precision.
In the match’s closing moments, Brazilian stars Wesley and Talisca added two more goals. Wesley scored in the 81st minute, and Talisca capped off the victory with a stoppage-time strike, securing Al-Nassr’s comprehensive 5-1 win and avenging last season’s semi-final loss to Al Ain.
For Ronaldo, the match was a return to form following recent setbacks, including a missed last-minute penalty in the Saudi King’s Cup that contributed to Al-Nassr’s exit from that competition. Ronaldo’s calm response to taunting chants of “Messi” from rival fans has also shown a new maturity in handling provocations.
As Al-Nassr progresses in the AFC Champions League, Ronaldo’s renewed form and the team’s collective strength position them as strong contenders, with hopes of making a deep run in the tournament.
