Cristiano Ronaldo was held scoreless in his first recreation within the Asian Champions League as his Al Nassr crew beat Iranian membership Persepolis 2-0 in Tehran on Tuesday.
The recreation was performed inside an empty Azadi Stadium after Persepolis was ordered to play with out followers for one recreation by the Asian Football Confederation after Indian membership Goa complained about an offensive social media put up made by the membership in 2021.
That meant Iranian followers had been disadvantaged of the prospect of seeing Ronaldo and the Saudi Arabian crew’s different big-money signings like Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic. But each targets got here from Saudi Arabian gamers.
Abdulrahman Ghareeb opened the scoring on the hour-mark and defender Mohammed Qassem doubled the lead 12 minutes later, together with his first objective for the Riyadh membership. Ronaldo, who tops the scoring chart within the Saudi Pro League, had an opportunity to attain after 20 minutes however headed straight on the Persepolis goalkeeper when unmarked on the fringe of the six-yard field.
While the environment within the stadium was quiet, Ronaldo’s presence had induced appreciable native pleasure on Monday. Hundreds of native followers stormed into Al Nassr’s lodge hoping to get a glimpse of the 38-year-old Portugal star as they chanted his identify.
It was so chaotic that Al Nassr, which continues to be trying to find a primary Asian championship, was unable to coach.
This was the primary go to of a Saudi Arabian crew to Iran since 2015, after diplomatic relations had been restored in June in a deal brokered by China.
The victory takes Al Nassr to the highest of Group E above Al-Duhail of Qatar and Tajikistan’s Istiklol, who drew 0-0. Only the ten group winners and the six finest runners-up within the 40-team event will progress to the second spherical.
Japanese champion Yokohama F. Marinos misplaced 4-2 at dwelling to Incheon United within the South Korean crew’s first Champions League recreation.
South Korean champion and two-time continental winner Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i defeated BG Pathum of Thailand 3-1. Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale gained 1-0 at Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Tazim whereas China’s Shandong Taishan picked up a 3-1 win in opposition to Kaya of the Philippines.
On Monday, Al Hilal and its star ahead Neymar had been held to a 1-1 draw by Uzbekistani membership Navbahor.
Saudi Arabian champion Al Ittihad was with out star striker Karim Benzema however nonetheless defeated AGMK of Uzbekistan 3-0.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
