Al Nassr vs Esteghlal Highlights, AFC Champions League Elite R016: Ronaldo, Duran brace sends NAS to quarterfinal

Al Nassr vs Esteghlal Highlights, AFC Champions League Elite R016: Ronaldo, Duran brace sends NAS to quarterfinal

A fairly comfortable win for Al Nassr! Easily the better side on the day and despite the fight given in the first leg, Esteghlal was no match to the Saudi side. A brace from Duran and a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo sends the team through to the quarterfinal with a 3-0 aggregate score.

Brozovic brings down a player near the halfline and Esteghlal has another chance to put a long ball in. Nothing comes off the set piece though. 

Five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game. 

GOAL!! Esteghlal was trying to push more bodies forward in search of a goal. Makes them susceptible to the counter and Ronaldo and Angelo combine before the latter sets up Duran for his second off the night. 

NAS 3 – 0 EST

Esteghlal looking for a way back in with more attacking intent. Fatil stretches fully to steal the ball off Masharipov and puts it out for a corner. 

Three substitutions for Al Nassr. Mane and Yahya among those going off. Angelo Gabriel, Wesley brought in. 

Ronaldo tries to release Mane down the left but the defender sees it coming. Kicks it out for a goalkick off Mane. 

Brozovic swings in a corner for Al Nassr. Too high but Lajami the substitute manages to keep it in play. Eventually won back by Esteghlal. 

Substitution for the visitor. Mohammed Azadi replaces Joel Kojo up top. 

Salem gets a yellow for a foul on Ramin near the right edge of the halfway line. Mohammed Simakan replaced for the home side. 

A rare venture into the box for Esteghlal but the defenders manage to usher the ball away from the attackers. 

A defence splitting pass inbetween the tight spaces at the edge of the box. Both Ronaldo and Mane in the vicinity of the through ball. It is the former who gets the shot away but is hit straight at the keeper. 

Sublime movement on and off the ball now from Al Nassr. Interchanging of positions proving too much for Esteghlal. Simakan tries to get at the end of a ball that lobbed up but fouls the defender in the process. 

Mane creating more trouble down the left. Crosses one into the box after finding space but is headed away. Salem looks to shoot one on the half volley but a touch too high/ 

Mane cuts in off the left and takes a right foot shot which the defender blocks. Falls to Duran at the edge of the box and thuds the crossbar with a powerful shot. 

Pin ball in the Esteghlal box. A low cross in from the left is hit straight at the keeper and Duran’s follow up hits the post!

Esteghlal has brought on Jaloliddin Masharipov in place of Alireza Koushki ahead of the second 45. 

Al Nassr kick off the second half with the game well and truly in its control, 45 minutes before the side seals a quarterfinal spot.

Three minutes of stoppage time. A VAR check underway for a possible red card. Fatil received a blow to his face as he looked to vye for the ball. Doesn’t look too bad but it is a second yellow for Ahmadi and he is given the marching orders!

A few minutes extra added after the VAR check. Esteghlal look to mount a late attack in the half but lose out on possession in the midfield. 

HALF TIME!

Esteghlal has a throw in from the left. The team attempts to quickly cross it into the box but its too wayward and bounces out for a goal kick.

Esteghlal with the ball in their half for the first time in a while. But, Brozovic puts in a strong tackle to emerge out with the ball.

Brozovic delivers the perfect through ball to find Ronaldo’s searing run on the left flank, but his shot can only find the side netting. 

A foul on Duran near the right corner flag gives Al Nassr another set piece opportunity. Brozovic puts the ball in but Fatil’s header is just past the near post. 

Excellent pass and play between Duran and Brozovic before Yahya plays it to Al-Boukhail. The cross in is dangerous but headed clear by the centre backs.

Mane manages to dance past the defenders on the left wing and puts a cross into the box. Comfortably shouldered back to his keeper by the defender. 

Duran finds space behind the backline, tries to cut back in from the goal line and take a left-footed shot but he is offside. 

GOAL!! Ronaldo makes no mistake from the spot. Chips one into the middle of the net to double the home side’s lead. 

NAS 2 – 0 EST

Mane is brought down in the box and Al Nassr have a penalty! Another misplaced pass by the defence, Ronaldo backheels into the path of Mane who is tripped by an extended leg.

Chipped ball past the defender into Al-Boushail on the right wing, his attempted cross in is blocked for a corner. Brozovic finds Ronaldo with the corner, but his attempted first-time swing of the boot flies over the bar. 

Simakan puts in a smart challenge to steal the ball away from a dangerous position. Esteghlal manages to win possession back and earn a freekick near the halfway line. The long freekick in is too close to the keeper. 

Brozovic’s corner is headed out of danger by Kojo but Al Nassr continues to retain possession in the attacking half. 

Yellow card for Ahmadi for taking out Salem on the left flank. A free kick opportunity from the edge of the box. Ronaldo goes for goal and it is punched away.

Throw in from the right. Yahya manages to find Duran who clips a ball into the box but Ronaldo’s header is too high. 

The home side continues to dominate possession after the opener. Ronaldo took a shot from distance right after the goal but it was quite wayward. Esteghlal trying to force Kojo to run in past the defence through quick counters. 

GOAL!! A blunder from Hosseini gives Al Nassr the lead! Passes the ball straight to Duran who finds a way to out muscle Raphael and chip the keeper. Just gets his finger tips to it but can’t keep it from going in. 

NAS 1 – 0 EST

A storming run through the right flank from EST as Saleh sends Ahmadi through. He can’t speed past the centre backs though and is stopped in his tracks by Mane, who challenges from behind to win the ball. 

Ayman Yahya finds the ball in space in the middle of the park. He is forced back though as NAS is forced backward. A cross comes in from the right flank but its wayward and easy to clear. 

Ronaldo looks for a cheeky flick but is dispossessed on the left flank. Esteghlal counter through Ramin on the right and Ahmadi’s shot is quite tame and easy to collect for Bento.

Esteghlal get us underway from left to right at Al Awwal Stadium. Early long ball goes out of touch and Al Nassr take control of possession. 

NAS: DDLWL 

EST: DLWWW

Matches: 4

Al Nassr wins: 2

Esteghlal wins: 1

Draw: 1

Al Nassr: Bento, Simakan, Al Fatil, Al-Boushail, Al Najdi, Al Hassan, Brozovic, Yahya, Ronaldo, Duran, Mane

Esteghlal: Hosseini, Sohrabian, Rezaeian, Raphael, Cheshmi, Hardani, Koushki, Ndong, Ahmadi, Niknafs, Kojo 

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the second leg of the Asian Champions League Elite round of 16 clash between Al Nassr and Esteghlal. 

Stay Tuned for team news and live coverage from the game in Riyadh!

Published on Mar 10, 2025