Kenya Sport

Al-Nassr Suffers Crushing 4-0 Defeat to Al-Ain in AFC Champions League Elite

Al-Nassr Faces Heavy Loss Against Al-Ain

Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr endured a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Al-Ain during their AFC Champions League Elite match in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE club, led by Soufiane Rahimi's impressive performance, dominated the contest and left the Saudi champions struggling throughout the game.

Match Highlights

  • 25th minute: Houssine Rahimi opened the scoring for Al-Ain.
  • 61st minute: Houssine Rahimi doubled the lead for the home side.
  • 72nd minute: Soufiane Rahimi, Houssine’s brother, scored a third goal.
  • Final goal: Soufiane Rahimi assisted Georgios Giakoumakis to complete the 4-0 victory.

The 41-year-old Portuguese forward, who is chasing his 980th career goal, failed to influence the game and saw his late free-kick attempt saved comfortably by goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.

Coach Postecoglou Takes Responsibility

Al-Nassr's coach, Ange Postecoglou, accepted full responsibility for the team's poor showing instead of blaming the players. He stated, "The players gave everything they had, and I do not place any responsibility on them ... and the responsibility is my responsibility." He described the overall team performance as poor without hesitation.

Impact on Al-Nassr’s Form

This defeat marks the worst loss in Ronaldo’s career since he joined the Middle East, matching a similar 4-0 loss he experienced with Manchester United against Brentford in August 2022. For Al-Nassr, this result adds to a troubling period, with only one win from their last four matches across all competitions.

Other Saudi Clubs in AFC Champions League Elite

  • Al-Hilal won 2-1 over Qatar’s Al-Gharafa, thanks to a Ruben Neves penalty and a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic goal. Both teams played with 10 men after red cards.
  • Al-Qadsiah edged past UAE’s Al-Wasl 2-1.
  • Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, reigning champions and rivals of Al-Nassr, both settled for 1-1 draws against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor and Qatar’s Al-Shamal respectively.

What’s Next for Al-Nassr?

Al-Nassr now faces the challenge of reversing their current slump and regaining momentum. Pressure is mounting on Ronaldo and his teammates to bounce back quickly and improve their standing in the continental competition after this harsh setback.

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