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Cristiano Ronaldo guided Al Nasr to the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League on Wednesday, with the Saudi side defeating domestic rivals Al Faiha 2-0 to advance 3-0 on aggregate.
Nasr won 1-0 in last week’s first leg thanks to Ronaldo’s goal nine minutes into the game, but they were the favored side at Al Awal Park and took the lead in the 17th minute with a goal from Portuguese winger Otavio.
The former Porto star, who joined Nasr last summer, headed home from close range to make it his second straight goal for the club.
Compatriot Ronaldo looked set to endure a personally frustrating night. The Portugal captain had a number of penalty appeals rejected and a goal disallowed for offside shortly into the second half.
Earlier this month, 39-year-old Ronaldo was also booked for a late challenge in first-half stoppage time, before Nasr manager Luis Castro was given a yellow card for violently protesting the decision.
But captain Nasr had the final say when he latched onto Marcelo Brozovic’s through ball with four minutes remaining.
Fija goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic should have handled the situation, but all he could do was kick out the onrushing Ronaldo’s clearance. The ball landed as if inviting Ronaldo to hit it into the empty net.
It was former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward Nasr’s 10th goal in his last nine games. Ronaldo, who has won the UEFA Champions League five times, will be playing in Asia’s Champions League for the first time.
In the other West Asian match of the night, 2003 champions Al Ain came from a one-goal deficit at home to beat Nasaf Karshi 2-1 in stoppage time to book their place in the quarter-finals.
The UAE side, the only Emirati club to lift the trophy, failed to respond to an in-swinging corner five minutes into the second half at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium when Nasaf forward Bobur Abdihorikov He pushed the ball away and the goal was scored. 6 yard box. Teammate Akmal Mozgovoi scored at the far post.
Last week’s first leg in Karshi ended goalless, depriving the Uzbek side of progress to the last eight.
However, it took just four minutes for Al Ain to equalize. Togolese striker Kodjo Raba kept his eyes on a loose ball looping inside the Nasaf penalty area and curled an acrobatic volley home.
However, the drama was saved in the second minute of added time. Nasaf’s goalkeeper, Abduvohid Nematov, somehow managed to get creative and cross from the left to Sofian Rahimi. The Al Ain playmaker took one touch and scored, giving the home team a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Al Ain and Nasr, who have reached the semi-finals of the last two Champions Leagues, will face off in two games next month for a place in the last four.
– Kewell starts well –
Former Australia star Harry Kewell defeated Bangkok United 1-0 in his first home game in charge, leading Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Yokohama won with Brazilian Anderson López scoring a penalty kick in stoppage time after extra time, and faced China’s Shandong Taishan in the quarter-finals.
“It’s been difficult but if we can get into the last eight and create something special for the club, it’s worth it,” Kewell said.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Ulsan also advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Japan’s Ventforet Kofu 2-1 and winning 5-1 on aggregate, and will face fellow South Korean Jeonbuk.
Former Leeds and Liverpool forward Kewell quit his job as Scottish champions Celtic’s first-team coach last month to take charge in Yokohama.
Kewell won 58 caps for Australia, appeared in two World Cups and won the 2005 Champions League with Liverpool.
str-amk/mw
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