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Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the winner for Al-Nassr in their 2-1 victory over Al-Rayyan on Monday, while Riyad Mahrez was the hero as Al-Ahli defeated Al-Wasl 2-0 on matchday 2 of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage.
After a 1-1 draw with Al-Shorta of Iraq in their opening game of the tournament, Al-Nassr went at their Qatari visitors from the kick-off in Riyadh and should have been ahead inside five minutes when Otavio slipped the ball through to Angelo. However, the Brazilian under-20 international, who scored a fine goal last week during a 2-0 win over Al-Wehda in the Saudi Pro League, put the ball wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
As the home side continued to pile on the pressure Ronaldo then had a great chance to open the scoring. The Portuguese star, who missed the trip to Baghdad two weeks ago because of a viral infection, got on the end of a deep cross at the far post after 13 minutes but his shot was saved by Paulo Victor, who left Saudi side Ettifaq to join Al-Rayyan in the summer.
It was not all one-way traffic, though, and Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento had to get down well to save a Roger Guedes shot at his near post.
Seven minutes before the break, Ronaldo had another chance but this time he headed over from a Sadio Mane cross. It was the type of opportunity he has taken with ease many times.
The deadlock was finally broken on the stroke of half-time when Sultan Al-Ghannam sent over a perfect cross from a central position and Mane headed home from close range.
Just after the restart Ronaldo volleyed an Otavio cross into the net but was judged to have been marginally offside. He was on a mission to score, however, and eventually did just that with 14 minutes remaining. Abdulrahman Ghareeb slipped the ball into the right side of the area and Ronaldo pounced to fire a perfect shot into the opposite top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
It was a goal worthy of winning any game but the result looked like it might yet be in doubt when Roger Guedes pulled one back three minutes from time, slotting home at the far post from Achraf Bencharki’s perfect low cross.
With nine minutes of added time, there were plenty of nerves on display but Al-Nassr managed to hold out for the win and three much-needed points to get their continental challenge up and running. They now sit in third place in the 12-team group with 4 points.
Al-Ahli were also in need of a win as they made the trip to Dubai to face Al-Wasl. Although they defeated Iranian side Persepolis 1-0 in the first game of their Champions League campaign, the Jeddah club had lost their previous two games in all competitions, including a shock home defeat in the King’s Cup to First Division strugglers Al-Jandal. Coach Mattias Jaissle was under pressure as a result but the gloom was lifted as early as the third minute when Mahrez opened the scoring.
The Algerian has come under fire this season for some uninspiring performances but he looked very much like his old self from the start on Monday, and he timed a run perfectly to latch onto a long pass out of defense from Roger Ibanez. Mahrez’s delicious first touch brought the ball down and with the second he stroked the ball past the goalkeeper.
Seven minutes before the break Mahrez returned the favor for former AS Roma defender Ibanez, as the former floated over a corner to the far post where the latter climbed high to send a powerful header into the back of the net.
It was not as comfortable a win for Al-Ahli as the scoreline might suggest but Al-Wasl were unable to take their chances. The three very welcome points moved the Greens into top spot in their group, temporarily at least.
Unlike in previous tournaments, each team will play eight games, with the top eight in the group qualifying for the round of 16 and only four missing out. Al-Ahli are therefore already looking good to progress.
Al-Hilal, who defeated Al-Rayyan in their opening game, will be in action on Tuesday when they host Al-Shorta.
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