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Al Sadd Stuns Al Nassr with Late Winner in Champions League Thriller
Al Nassr tasted defeat for the first time in the 2023 Asian Champions League on Monday, falling 2-1 to a determined Al Sadd side in a dramatic encounter at Al Awwal Park.
The Saudi side, already assured of their place in the knockout stages, opted to rest star forward Cristiano Ronaldo for the match. Ronaldo, who has been in prolific form this season, watched from the stands alongside his mother, Dolores Aveiro, and partner Georgina Rodriguez.
Despite his absence, Ronaldo’s influence lingered, the echoes of his recent performances – including a brace against Al Gharafa in the Champions League and a double in the Saudi Pro League – still felt by both fans and players.
However, it was Al Sadd, spearheaded by AFC Player of the Year Akram Afif, who seized the initiative early in the second half. Afif raced onto a long ball from the halfway line, outpacing Al Nassr defender Mohammed Al Fatil before coolly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Bento in the 53rd minute.
Al Nassr fought back, and their efforts were rewarded in the 80th minute thanks to an unfortunate own goal from Al Sadd defender Romain Saiss. A low cross from Brazilian Wesley deflected off Saiss and into his own net, leveling the score at 1-1.
The drama reached fever pitch in the dying moments of injury time when Afif was brought down in the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, awarding Al Sadd a vital penalty. Substitute Adam Ounas stepped up and calmly converted from the spot in the 99th minute, sending Al Sadd fans into raptures.
Al Nassr’s first defeat of the group stage sees them remain in third place in the Western Region group. Al Sadd’s victory, however, lifts them into fourth, securing their place in the knockout rounds. The top eight teams from each group will advance to the next stage of the tournament.
Al Ahli Held by Tenacious Esteghlal, Maintain Top Spot
In another thrilling group clash, Saudi side Al Ahli managed to retain their position at the top of the table despite dropping their first points of the campaign. Iran’s Esteghlal held them to a 2-2 draw in Jeddah, a hard-fought result that denied Al Ahli a perfect record in the group stage.
The English striker Ivan Toney was instrumental in Al Ahli’s fightback, scoring twice from the penalty spot, including a crucial conversion to level the score after Esteghlal had taken the lead. Toney’s contributions proved pivotal, especially after Esteghlal had a player sent off in the second half.
The Asian Champions League group stage continues, with both Al Nassr and Al Sadd setting their sights on further progress in the competition.
How did Al Sadd’s performance in the match surprise football analysts? [[[1]## Post-Match Interview: Al Sadd Stuns Champions League Favorites
**Interviewer:** Joining us now is football analyst Alex Reed, who witnessed Al Sadd’s stunning upset victory over reigning champions Al-Nassr. How do you make sense of this result?
**Alex Reed:** Well, it was a truly inspiring performance from Al Sadd. They were clearly the hungrier team, especially after falling behind early in the match [RodriguesandAfifsonsoftwokingsdemonstratedgreathustleandtenacity[RodriguesandAfifsonsoftwokingsdemonstratedgreathustleandtenacity[RodriguesandAfifsonsoftwokingsdemonstratedgreathustleandtenacity[RodriguesandAfifsonsoftwokingsdemonstratedgreathustleandtenacity
**Interviewer:** Al-Nassr was already through to the knockout stages and opted to rest Cristiano Ronaldo. Do you think that played a role in the outcome?
**Alex Reed:** It definitely seems so. Ronaldo’s presence undoubtedly brings a psychological edge and a certain level of fear for opposing teams. However, Al Sadd showed that even without Ronaldo on the pitch, Al-Nassr is beatable. Credit must go to Al Sadd for taking advantage of the opportunity and capitalizing on Al Nassr’s complacency.[[[[
(https://www.sofascore.com/football/match/al-sadd-al-nassr/atjsIUp)]
**Interviewer:** Akram Afif was instrumental in Al Sadd’s win. How crucial was his performance?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely vital. Afif is a world-class talent and arguably the best player in Asia right now. His pace, skill, and vision were on full display, and his goal was a testament to his talent. He showed why he was named AFC Player of the Year.
**Interviewer:** What does this win mean for Al Sadd moving forward in the tournament?
**Alex Reed:** It’s a massive confidence boost for Al Sadd. They have proven they can compete with the best teams in Asia. This victory will undoubtedly give them momentum going into the knockout stages.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Alex Reed. It was a thrilling encounter, and I’m sure we’re all looking forward to seeing what both teams deliver in the next round.