DUBAI — Cristiano Ronaldo led the charge as Al Nassr cruised into the AFC Champions League Two semi-finals with a commanding 4-0 victory over Al Wasl on Sunday.
The Saudi side blitzed their hosts with three goals inside the opening 30 minutes at Zabeel Stadium, with Ronaldo scoring his first goal of this season’s competition.
The result sends Al Nassr into the last four, where they will meet either Qatar’s Al Ahli SC or Al Hussein.
Head coach Jorge Jesus started Ronaldo alongside Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović, Kingsley Coman and João Félix for the first time in the tournament, and the move paid immediate dividends.
Al Nassr struck after 11 minutes when Coman released Nawaf Bu Washl down the right, with the full-back cutting the ball back for Ronaldo to finish low into the corner.
Félix then showcased his set-piece quality, delivering a precise corner for Iñigo Martínez to head home in the 24th minute.
Two minutes later, the Portuguese playmaker supplied another inviting cross, this time allowing Abdulelah Al Amri to nod in Al Nassr’s third as Al Wasl’s defense struggled to cope.
The UAE side had limited attacking moments in the first half, with Brahian Palacios dragging a chance wide before the break.
Al Wasl improved after halftime and finally tested goalkeeper Bento Krepski in the 57th minute, but Al Nassr remained in control.
They wrapped up the win in the 80th minute when substitute Abdullah Al Hamddan sent Mané through on goal, with the Senegal star rounding the goalkeeper and finishing into an empty net.
Source: Saudi Gazette