Ronaldo’s Trophy Drought Continues as Al-Nassr Upset in AFC Champions League Two Final

Cristiano Ronaldo's ambition to secure a first major trophy with Al-Nassr has been put on hold following a surprising 1-0 defeat to Japanese side Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final. The match, held at Al-Nassr's home ground, the King Saud University Stadium, on Saturday, saw the Saudi club, considered favourites, fall short in front of 26,000 fans.

The result marks a significant setback for Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in January 2023, as he continues his quest for silverware in Saudi Arabia. The AFC Champions League Two is Asia's second-tier club competition, comparable to Europe's Europa League.

Early Setback for Al-Nassr

Despite Al-Nassr's favoured status and home advantage, Gamba Osaka took the lead against the run of play in the 30th minute. Deniz Hummet capitalised on an incisive through ball from Issam Jebali, firing past the Al-Nassr goalkeeper to give the visitors a crucial advantage. This goal proved to be the decisive moment of the match.

Gamba Osaka, demonstrating resilience throughout the second half, successfully defended their lead to clinch the title. This victory makes them the first Japanese club to win the AFC Champions League Two, while simultaneously preventing Al-Nassr from becoming the first Saudi side to claim the trophy.

Ronaldo's Trophy Pursuit Continues

This latest disappointment for Cristiano Ronaldo comes just days after another significant blow to Al-Nassr's trophy aspirations. A last-gasp own goal by their goalkeeper Bento resulted in a 1-1 draw against Saudi Pro League title rivals Al-Hilal. That result kept Al-Hilal within two points of league leaders Al-Nassr with only one game remaining in the domestic season.

Key facts

Saudi Pro League Decider Looms

Despite the AFC Champions League Two final defeat, Al-Nassr still have an opportunity to secure a major trophy this season. They currently lead the Saudi Pro League and will become champions for the 11th time, and first since 2019, if they win their final home match against Damac on Thursday.

Al-Hilal, the 21-time Saudi champions, will play their concluding fixture at Al-Fayha at the same time. The Saudi Pro League title race is set for a dramatic conclusion, with both teams vying for the championship.

Coach's Reaction and Future Focus

Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus acknowledged the disappointment but stressed the need to refocus on the upcoming league decider. "We didn't get what we wanted here but there is one more final for us, the Saudi Pro League title, which is very important to us," Jesus stated after the match.

He added, "We have five days to recover and prepare and there is no time for grieving. We have to get going again." This highlights the immediate shift in focus for Al-Nassr as they aim to salvage their season with a domestic title. Ronaldo, who is Al-Nassr's leading scorer this season with 28 goals in 36 games across all competitions, will undoubtedly be central to their efforts in the final league match.

Fuente: BBC Sport Football RSS https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cm2pe6d9prvo?atmedium=RSS&atcampaign=rss