To add to the pain for Norris, the Briton finished under investigation for a procedural infringement at the initial aborted start
sports2 days ago
Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr inflicted a crushing 5-1 defeat on Al Ain in the Asian Champions League Elite in Riyadh on Tuesday that leaves the title-holders' hopes of advancing to the last 16 in jeopardy.
The win was Al Nassr's third in four matches in the league phase of the continental championship and moves Stefano Pioli's side up to third and within two points of compatriots Al Hilal and Al Ahli, who lead the standings at the halfway point.
The top eight in the 12-team groups in both west and east Asia advance to the last 16 in March and Al Ain, who defeated Al Nassr last season on the way to the title, are in danger of missing out on a place in the knockout rounds.
Hernan Crespo's side have picked up a solitary point in their four games so far and will need a significant turnaround if they are to climb off the bottom of the table in the second half of the league phase.
The side from the UAE were comprehensively outplayed throughout with Anderson Talisca putting the home team in front in the fifth minute with a low drive from distance that slid past Khalid Eisa.
Ronaldo doubled that advantage 26 minutes later when Eisa spilt Sadio Mane's shot from outside the area and the Portuguese striker pounced on the loose ball.
Six minutes later Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel cut in from the left to hit a shot towards goal that beat Eisa via a deflection off Fabio Cardoso, giving the keeper little chance.
Al-Ain pulled one back 11 minutes after the restart when Park Yong-woo's drive beat Bento when it struck the post and hit the Al-Nassr goalkeeper on the back to cross the line.
But Wesley scored nine minutes from time to kill off any hope of a comeback and Talisca hit his second of the night in injury time to complete the rout.
Al-Rayyan climbed off the bottom of the table earlier in the evening when the Qatari side picked up their first points of the campaign with a 1-0 win over Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan.
A long punt forward from near the halfway line in the 51st minute by Hazem Shehata, intended for the head of Brazilian forward Roger Guedes, flew over goalkeeper Vladimir Nazarov and into the top corner to give Al-Rayyan victory.
ALSO READ:
To add to the pain for Norris, the Briton finished under investigation for a procedural infringement at the initial aborted start
sports2 days ago
‘I'm Excited for what lies ahead – it promises to be a thrilling season of golf’ said the 24-year-old who is in his first pro season
sports2 days ago
This event serves as Qualifier Two for the 2024-25 EGF Order of Merit for Men and Women
sports2 days ago
The Arabian Ranches Golf Club event has drawn elite competitors,including UAE National Team player Thomas Nesbitt and low-handicap standout Craig Murray from GEMS First Point
sports2 days ago
The Dubai-born player is tied for 18th, with the top 22 players and ties advancing to the final qualifying stage
sports3 days ago
Sara Engsig dominates the Ladies’ Gross Division with a stellar 69 to be four shots clear of Lucia Maturi
sports3 days ago
Several football games were postponed over the weekend like Valencia vs Real Madrid and Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano
sports3 days ago
Shubman Gill scored a fluent 90 after Rishabh Pant made a quick-fire 60, as the hosts took a slender lead of 28 runs
sports3 days ago