Al Nassr’s Jhon Duran celebrates scoring their third aim with Cristiano Ronaldo and Angelo Gabriel in a match towards Esteghlal on March 10, 2025. — Reuters
RIYADH: Jhon Duran scored twice, and Cristiano Ronaldo netted a penalty as Al Nassr cruised to a 3-0 victory over Esteghlal, sealing their spot within the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals on Monday.
Ronaldo, the Al Nassr captain, was reportedly rested for final week’s goalless draw within the first leg in Iran however returned to steer the facet at Al Awwal Park.
He scored from the spot halfway by means of the primary half.
Al Nassr, considered one of three Saudi Arabian sides to dominate the west area’s group stage, wanted solely 9 minutes to take the lead in Riyadh.
Duran, a winter signing from English Premier League facet Aston Villa, picked up a unfastened ball on the best fringe of the Esteghlal penalty space and floated an outstanding chip over goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini.
It marked the striker’s first aim within the competitors.
Al Nassr doubled their benefit on 27 minutes after Sadio Mané, a UEFA Champions League winner with Liverpool, drew a foul from rival midfielder Zobeir Niknafs contained in the Esteghlal field.
Ronaldo casually stroked the spot-kick into the centre of the web to take his tally on this 12 months’s Champions League Elite to seven targets in six appearances.
The Portuguese star is the main scorer on this season’s Saudi Professional League, with 18 targets.
Esteghlal’s evening bought even worse simply earlier than half-time once they had been diminished to 10 males after Mehran Ahmadi inadvertently caught Al Nassr defender Mohammed Al Fatil with a stray arm within the face whereas making an attempt to protect the ball.
VAR upgraded the foul to a yellow card and, with Ahmadi having earlier been booked, he was promptly despatched off.
Al Nassr went near including a 3rd originally of the second half. First, Duran had an effort saved, just for Ayman Yahya’s rebound to be cleared off the road.
Minutes later, Duran thumped the Esteghlal crossbar with a shot from distance.
The Al Nassr ahead wouldn’t be denied his second, although, dragging a low shot contained in the close to put up after being teed up by former Chelsea winger Angelo.
In Monday’s different match, two-time Asian champions Al Sadd booked their place within the final eight with a 4-2 combination victory towards UAE champions Al Wasl.
The guests, held to a 1-1 draw within the first leg in Dubai one week earlier, took an early lead by means of Fabio Lima.
Nevertheless, Al Sadd replied with three targets in 10 minutes simply earlier than the half-hour mark, with Mostafa Meshaal, Youcef Atal, and Akram Afif discovering the web. Afif is the reigning Asian Participant of the Yr.
