NEW DELHI: Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo faced a setback as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Al Ain from the UAE in the first leg of AFC Champions League quarterfinal.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s team embarked on their journey to the United Arab Emirates, aiming to preserve their unbeaten streak in the tournament. However, a lackluster performance from the Saudi Pro League side, coupled with a display of brilliance from Soufiane Rahimi, led to their downfall with a 1-0 defeat.
Rahimi remained composed as he advanced towards David Ospina’s goal, skillfully evading the Colombian goalkeeper and neatly placing the ball into the net despite being off balance. Despite a solitary opportunity for Ronaldo in the second half, which was thwarted by an impressive save from Al-Ain’s goalkeeper, the hosts maintained control over the game.
The match took a dramatic turn in injury time when former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte was given a straight red card for elbowing Hazem Mohammad in the back.
The winner of the tie is guaranteed a semifinal against Saudi opposition. Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal meet on Tuesday in the second quarterfinal in the western zone — the tournament is divided into two geographic halves until the final.
