In a remarkable display of skill and determination, 38-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo led Al Nassr to secure a spot in the Arab Club Champions Cup final with a decisive 1-0 victory over Al Shorta in the semi-finals.
It was in the 73rd minute that the match took a dramatic turn. Sadio Mane skillfully broke through the Al Shorta defense within the penalty area, drawing a foul from defender Faisal Jasim. The ball found its way to Ronaldo, who cleverly positioned himself near the referee, pressing for a penalty call. Moments later, as Al Shorta gained possession, the match was halted for a VAR review at the touchline. The intervention confirmed the penalty for Al Nassr, and Ronaldo capitalized on the opportunity, slotting the ball into the right corner to open the scoring.
Ronaldo celebrated his goal by sprinting to the corner flag, performing his signature jump-spin celebration, and exchanging chest bumps with Mane. The crowd erupted with cheers of “siuuu” as Ronaldo leaped high, and soon after, the spectators illuminated the stadium with their phones, creating a captivating bokeh effect.
While Ronaldo’s impact was undeniable, Mane’s performance took center stage during the match. Mane showcased his prowess with dynamic dribbles that posed a constant threat to the layered defense of the Iraqi club. In the 86th minute, Mane once again found himself tumbling in the penalty area, prompting VAR intervention. However, this time, the referee decided against awarding a penalty.
Two minutes later, Mane delivered a precise cross for Ronaldo’s header from a mere 5 meters, but Al Shorta’s goalkeeper, Ahmed Basil Fadhil, made a spectacular save to deny the equalizer. Al Shorta mounted a swift counterattack, putting midfielder Ahmed Farhan through on goal, but his attempted chip was expertly thwarted by goalkeeper Nawaf Alaqidi.
Al Shorta, the reigning champions of Iraq, held an Opta Power rating of 74.6 compared to Al Nassr’s 77.7. The Al Shorta squad featured several Iraqi national team players, who will face Vietnam in the group stage of the 2024 Asian Cup and the second round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Despite their strong performance, Al Shorta struggled to contain stars like Ronaldo, Mane, and Marcelo Brozovic.
Ronaldo’s earlier goal in the 31st minute, assisted by Mane’s agile breakthrough, was nullified by VAR due to a marginal offside call. Ronaldo then almost turned provider, setting up Alex Telles for a shot, only to see the defender’s effort rattle the crossbar.
As the final whistle echoed through the stadium, Al Nassr players embraced each other in celebration. Notably, they shared a moment of triumph with goalkeeper Alaqidi, acknowledging his vital save late in the game.
In the stands, a supporter ignited a flare to commemorate Al Nassr’s qualification for the final. Their opponents in the championship match will be either Al Hilal or Al Shabab, with the showdown scheduled for August 12th.
