Al Nassr’s run in the AFC Champions League Elite came to an end at the semi-final stage, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing a crucial late opportunity to keep their hopes alive in Jeddah.
Ronaldo and his teammates competed in the tournament’s final rounds in Saudi Arabia, where the top Asian clubs battled through the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in a tightly scheduled week of matches. ..Continue Reading
After dominant performances from Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Jhon Duran helped Al Nassr secure a decisive victory over Yokohama F. Marinos—who currently sit at the bottom of the J1 League following the dismissal of former England assistant coach Steve Holland—the Saudi side faced another Japanese opponent in the semi-finals.
Kawasaki Frontale, the lone non-Saudi team in the last four, proved too strong for Al Nassr, securing a 3-2 win and advancing to Saturday’s final against Al Ahli.
Ronaldo had two chances to equalize in stoppage time. His first opportunity—a free kick—was denied by Kawasaki goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi, and his second was a clear scoring chance after dribbling past Yamaguchi, only to be denied by Asahi Sasaki’s impressive goal-line defense.
Given Ronaldo’s pedigree, the miss was unexpected, and his reaction spoke volumes.
Standing in the middle of King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, the 40-year-old appeared to analyze his mistake, visibly frustrated, gesturing and even mimicking the left-footed strike he felt he should have used to force extra time.
Earlier in the match, Kawasaki took the lead with a spectacular volley from Tatsuya Ito, though Mane quickly leveled the score.
Goals from Yuto Ozeki and club legend Akihiro Ienaga put the J.League side 3-1 ahead with just 15 minutes remaining, but Ayman Yahya’s deflected shot reignited Al Nassr’s hopes.
Ronaldo’s late opportunity ultimately went unconverted, sealing Al Nassr’s exit as Stefano Pioli’s squad fell short.
Since joining the Saudi club in 2023, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has yet to claim a trophy in either domestic or AFC competition.
