Football

AFC Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo's Penalty Not Enough As Al-Nassr Crash Out

Cristiano Ronaldo was on target in the shootout but Al Nassr failed to covert any of their other spot-kicks in a comprehensive 3-1 AFC Champions League 2023-24 quarter-final shootout defeat against Al Ain of UAE

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Cristiano Ronaldo could not see Al Nassr through. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s 118th-minute penalty was not enough to stop Al Nassr being eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League. (More Football News)

Already trailing by a goal following last week’s opening-leg defeat at Al Ain, Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League side were then 2-0 down on the evening, and staring at a bruising last-eight exit.

But the hosts pulled two goals back before Ronaldo, 39, somehow managed to miss a tap-in shortly after the hour mark.

However, the Portuguese’s blushes were spared when former Manchester United player Alex Telles scored in the 72nd minute to force extra-time.

Al-Nassr were reduced to 10 men, and then behind in the tie again when Sultan Al-Shamsi netted for Al Ain in the opening period of extra-time.

But Ronaldo made amends from his earlier miss to win, and convert from the penalty spot, with two minutes remaining to secure a 4-4 aggregate result.

Ronaldo was on target in the resulting shootout but Al Nassr failed to covert any of their other spot-kicks in a comprehensive 3-1 shootout defeat.