Nassr’s Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo gestures on the pitch through the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr at at al-Awwal Stadium in Riyadh on September 13, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)
Al Nassr struggled in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence on Monday, when the Saudi club kicked off the revamped Asian Champions League with a 1-1 draw against Al Shorta in Iraq.
Al Nassr captain Ronaldo didn’t travel with the squad for the match in Baghdad, with the club issuing an announcement a day before stating that the Portuguese superstar had been diagnosed with a viral infection.
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Al Nassr, who were knocked out of last season’s Asian Champions League within the quarter-finals by eventual champions Al Ain, got a dream start within the Iraqi capital, when full-back Sultan Al Ghannam met Otavio’s astute, first-time pass on 14 minutes to complete low past Al Shorta goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.
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Nonetheless, the hosts drew level 10 minutes later.
A mixture-up on the back between latest signings Salem Al Najdi and former RB Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan allowed Al Shorta forward Mohammed Dawood to steal in and send an excellent effort high past Bento within the Al Nassr goal.
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Meanwhile, fellow Saudi side Al Ahli eked to a 1-0 victory at home to Iran’s Persepolis in Jeddah, with latest recruit Ivan Toney making his Asian football debut.
Ivory Coast international Franck Kessie set the house side on their way within the second minute, rifling home from Riyad Mahrez’s assist.
Persepolis were awarded a penalty 4 minutes before half-time when Merih Demiral was deemed to have committed a foul inside the world, nonetheless the choice was overturned following a VAR review.
Within the second half, Toney won Al Ahli a spot-kick of their very own –- he was felled by rival defender Hossein Kanani — just for Mahrez’s penalty to be saved well by Persepolis goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz.
England international Toney, a high-profile signing late last month from Premier League club Brentford, missed a golden opportunity to open his account five minutes from time, but dragged his shot wide.
He had made his debut for Al Ahli last Friday.
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Elsewhere, Al Ain began their title defence with a 1-1 draw at home to Qatar’s Al Sadd.
Akram Afif, 2019 Asian Football of the 12 months and player of the tournament on the Asian Cup earlier this 12 months, opened the scoring at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on the hour.
But Al Ain earned a degree 10 minutes from time, through Argentine Matias Palacios.
In Monday’s other match, Iran’s Esteghlal saw off Qatari side Al Gharafa 3-0.
The brand new format features 24 teams -– 12 from West Asia and 12 from East Asia.
With each club playing 4 matches at home and 4 away, the highest eight in both sides of the draw progress to the knockout stages early next 12 months.
