Al Nassr, the Saudi Pro League club, has qualified for the group stage of the Asian Champions League after scoring three goals in the injury time to defeat Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates 4-2 on Tuesday.
The match, held at Mrsool Park in Riyadh, saw Al Nassr come back from a 1-2 deficit in the 88th minute, thanks to an own goal by Shabab Al Ahli defender Walid Abbas. Brazilian midfielder Anderson Talisca then headed in the winner in the 95th minute, before Croatian playmaker Marcelo Brozovic sealed the victory with a low shot in the 97th minute.
Al Nassr had opened the scoring in the 11th minute, when Talisca nodded home a corner from Brozovic. However, Shabab Al Ahli equalized in the 18th minute through Yahya Al Ghassani, who slotted the ball past Al Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi after a swift counterattack. Al Ghassani then put the visitors ahead in the 46th minute, chipping the ball over Al Aqidi after a long ball from midfield.
Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who was making his debut in the Asian Champions League after joining the club last December, had a frustrating night as he was denied two penalty appeals in the first half and was seen arguing with the referee at half-time. The Portuguese star, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, did not score but assisted Brozovic for the fourth goal.
With this result, Al Nassr joins Group A of the Asian Champions League, along with Iran’s Esteghlal, Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Iraq’s Al Shorta. The group stage will begin next month.
