Riyadh, March 11 (H.S.): In the second leg of the Asian Champions League’s elite Round of 16, held at Al Awal Stadium in Riyadh, Al Nassr defeated Esteghlal 3-0 to secure a place in the quarterfinals. In this match, the team’s new player, Johan Duran, scored two goals, while Cristiano Ronaldo added to the score with a penalty.

After a goalless draw in the first leg, the Saudi Pro League club qualified for the quarterfinals with a total aggregate score of 3-0. From the outset, Al Nassr displayed an aggressive style of play, with the trio of Duran, Ronaldo, and Sadio Mane putting pressure for an early goal. The first goal came from a mistake by Esteghlal’s goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini, whose faulty pass went directly to Duran. Duran beat the defender and sent the ball into the net with a superb chip shot.

Al Nassr doubled their lead before the 30th minute. Ronaldo chased a stray pass inside Esteghlal’s box and set up the ball for Mane with a backheel pass, only for Mane to be brought down by the defender.

Captain Ronaldo converted the penalty into the net with a Panenka-style shot, making it 2-0. In the final moments of the first half, Esteghlal’s Mehran Ahmadi was shown a red card, leaving his team to play the second half with 10 players.

In the second half, the host team created several opportunities, looking for a third goal through quick passing. Finally, in the 84th minute, Duran secured the victory for his team by scoring a magnificent shot off a counterattack, placing the ball in the lower corner.

Although Esteghlal attempted to make a comeback at times, Al Nassr easily claimed the match and secured a place in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar