Cristiano Ronaldo Benched for Istiklol AFC Champions League Game as Rising Star Joao Felix Shines in Al-Nassr Match
In a strong display of prowess, Al-Nassr secured a decisive 4-0 victory against Istiklol in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday. The match took place at the Markazii Jumhuriyavii Stadium in Tajikistan.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Absence
Al-Nassr’s star player Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the matchday squad, as coach Jorge Jesus opted for a heavily-rotated lineup. Alongside Ronaldo, notable players such as Sadio Mane and Inigo Martinez were also rested for this encounter, with Kingsley Coman not featuring either.
Joao Felix Shines
Despite the absence of prominent names, Joao Felix emerged as the standout performer. The talented forward opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a well-executed penalty, placing it beyond Istiklol goalkeeper Nikola Stosic’s reach.
First Half Summary
- Felix scored the opening goal in the 12th minute.
- Mohamed Simakan extended the lead to 2-0 just before halftime.
Simakan, formerly of RB Leipzig, found the net in the 40th minute to ensure Al-Nassr had a comfortable lead at halftime.
Second Half Highlights
The second half saw Al-Nassr manage the game effectively without exerting too much energy. However, the introduction of Sadio Mane and Ayman Yahya revitalized the team.
Key Moments in the Second Half
- Sadio Mane scored from a Felix assist in the 84th minute.
- Ayman Yahya added a stoppage-time goal to make it 4-0.
Largely thanks to the contributions from Felix, Mane, and Yahya, Al-Nassr further established their dominance in this AFC Champions League match.
Conclusion
Al-Nassr’s performance without their key players, especially Ronaldo, was impressive. The team now looks forward to building on this success in upcoming matches as they aim for AFC Champions League glory.
