Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr Qualify For AFC Champions League Group Stage After Incredible Comeback In Play-Off Round

Cristiano Ronaldo will play Champions League soccer again this season.

Not in the UEFA tournament that he won five times while playing in Europe, but in the 42nd edition of the AFC Champions League.

Ronaldo's Al Nassr side qualified for the group stage of Asia's premier club competition on Tuesday night courtesy of a remarkable 4-2 home win over Dubai's Shabab Al-Ahli in the play-off round.

Al Nassr had lost their first two games in the Saudi Pro League this season and appeared to be heading towards another defeat after two goals from Yahya Al-Ghassani had seen the champions of the UAE lead 2-1 going into the final seconds of normal time.

But Sultan Al-Ghannam equalized for Al Nassr in the 88th minute before two even later goals saw the home side progress in dramatic style.

Brazilian Talisca, who had earlier opened the scoring in the first half, got Al Nassr's third goal of the game in the fifth minute of added time.

Marcelo Brozovic then wrapped up a superb comeback win by firing home from 19 yards two minutes later following a Ronaldo assist.

Al Nassr will be one of four Saudi sides in this season's AFC Champions League group stage - along with Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Fayha.

The group stage will begin on September 18.

Highlights: Al Nassr 4-2 Shabab Al-Ahli

Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo pictured celebrating after his team beat Dubai's Shabab Al-Ahli 4-2 in the play-off round of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League

SSC