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Al-Nassr Crushed by Al-Ain as Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Toughest Defeat in Saudi Arabia

Al-Nassr Crushed by Al-Ain as Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Toughest Defeat in Saudi Arabia
Daily News

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a harsh night as his team Al-Nassr suffered a heavy 4-0 loss against Al-Ain in the AFC Champions League Elite in the UAE. The Portuguese forward, chasing his 980th career goal, watched on helplessly as the two-time Asian champions dismantled his side.

Match Breakdown

  • 25th minute: Houssine Rahimi opened the scoring for Al-Ain.
  • After 60 minutes: Houssine Rahimi doubled the lead, increasing pressure on Al-Nassr.
  • With 18 minutes left: Soufiane Rahimi, Houssine's brother, added a third goal.
  • Late in the game: Soufiane assisted Georgios Giakoumakis, who completed the 4-0 win.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo had a free-kick chance late in the match but was denied by Khalid Eisa, the goalkeeper, who saved comfortably.

Post-Match Reaction

"The players gave everything they had, and I do not place any responsibility on them ... and the responsibility is my responsibility," said Al-Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou. He didn't hide his disappointment either, stating plainly, "Al-Nassr as a whole was poor."

Significance of the Defeat

This marks the worst defeat Ronaldo has faced since joining the Middle East, matching the 4-0 loss Manchester United suffered against Brentford in August 2022. It also highlights a worrying slump for Al-Nassr, who have won just once in their last four matches across all competitions.

Other Saudi Clubs' Results in AFC Champions League Elite

  • Al-Hilal secured a 2-1 victory over Qatar's Al-Gharafa with goals from Ruben Neves (penalty) and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Both teams finished with 10 men.
  • Al-Qadsiah defeated UAE's Al-Wasl 2-1.
  • Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad both drew 1-1 against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor and Qatar’s Al-Shamal, respectively.

Looking Ahead

Al-Nassr now faces the challenge of regrouping to stop their downward trend. The pressure mounts on Ronaldo and his teammates to bounce back quickly and salvage their campaign in this tough continental competition. Meanwhile, their domestic rivals aim to capitalize on this shaky start and push forward in the ACL Elite.

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