Al Nassr without Ronaldo suffers its first defeat in the Asian Champions League

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Cristiano Ronaldo watched from the stands as already qualified Al Nassr lost for the first time in this year’s Asian Champions League Elite on Monday, being beaten 2-1 in stoppage time by Al Sadd of Qatar.

The 39-year-old Portuguese star was reportedly rested for the game in Riyadh as the Saudi club secured their place in the knockout stages last week with three rounds of the group stage remaining.

Ronaldo scored twice against Al Gharafa, another Qatari team, in their last game and scored another brace in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

However, the Al Nassr captain was missing from Stefano Pioli’s squad for the game against Al Sadd.

Ronaldo, who scored 15 goals in 18 appearances for his club this season, was spotted at Al Awwal Park alongside his mother Dolores Aveiro and partner Georgina Rodriguez.

Al Sadd took the lead eight minutes into the second half through Akram Afif, when the reigning AFC Player of the Year fired a long ball from the halfway line.

Afif overtook defender Mohammed Al Fatil and landed low past Brazil goalkeeper Bento.

Al Nassr equalized in the 80th minute when Al Sadd defender Romain Saiss turned a low cross from Brazilian youth player Wesley into his own goal.

However, it was a huge slap in the face for Al Nassr when Afif went down in the hosts’ penalty area and substitute Adam Ounas converted from the penalty spot in the 99th minute.

The defeat leaves Al Nassr third in the Western Region group stage, while Al Sadd move up to fourth place and also secure a place in the round of 16.

The best eight teams qualify for the knockout rounds.

Al Ahli, also from Saudi Arabia, remain at the top thanks to a brace from Ivan Toney that secured a 2-2 draw against Iran’s Esteghlal in Jeddah – although they have given up their 100 percent record in this year’s tournament.

The English striker equalized twice from penalties for the hosts, with the first goal coming in stoppage time in the first half and the second in the 86th minute. Esteghlal had sent off Mohammed Hossein Eslami five minutes earlier.

It was the second consecutive Champions League elite game in which Toney scored twice after his brace last week against Asian champions Al Ain.

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