Ronaldo scores as Al Nassr win first AFC Champions League game

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal as Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr defeated Qatar’s Al Rayyan 2-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage on Monday.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner missed Al Nassr’s 1-1 draw against Iraq’s Al-Shorta two weeks ago due to a viral infection. On Monday, a goal was ruled out for offside, but his shot into the top corner proved crucial with 14 minutes left in Riyadh.

Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mané headed home for Al Nassr just before half-time and the points looked assured when Ronaldo scored a second.

Al Rayyan got back into the game with three minutes left when Roger Guedes scored from close range.

However, Al Nassr, aiming for his first Asian title, persevered.

Riyad Mahrez scored his first goal of the season as Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia won 2-0 at Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates for their second consecutive win.

The Algerian attacker, who moved to the Jeddah club from Manchester City in 2023, had problems with his fitness.

Mahrez scored the first goal after just three minutes. He ran onto a long pass from defender Roger Ibañez and shot into the goal from inside the penalty area. He returned the favor seven minutes before half-time when Ibanez powerfully headed home his corner.

Al-Sadd of Qatar defeated Esteghlal of Iran 2-0, whose Tehran rival Persepolis drew 1-1 with Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan.

The 24 teams will be divided into two groups of 12 – one in the West and one in the East – with the best eight in each group advancing to the round of 16.