Ronaldo close to disaster

Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané’s Al-Nassr nearly lost in the Asian Champions League play-offs before a completely crazy end to the game against Shabab Al-Ahli.

Second in the Saudi Pro League last season, Al-Nassr was forced to go through the Asian Champions League play-offs and Cristiano Ronaldo was on the verge of not competing. It would be a total humiliation for “CR7”, who promised to make football history in Saudi Arabia and Asia when he arrived last January.

Al-Nassr was in very bad shape against the Emirati club Shabab Al-Ahli, but ended up winning in this disputed one-match play-off. The Dubai players took the lead at the start of the second half (46th) and those of Riyadh, in front of a wild public, waited until the end of the match to completely reverse the situation and win 4-2, thanks to Sultan Al Ghannam (88th), Anderson Talisca (95th) and Marcelo Brozovic (97th).

“CR7” was overexcited during the meeting, he could have obtained two penalties. In vain. The five-time Ballon d’Or is finally credited with the assist on the last goal for Brozovic. Mané, he played the whole meeting. Al-Nassr will know his opponents on Friday, being also hat 4 of the draw for a group stage which will begin in September.