In a thrilling encounter at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, Al Nassr secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League with a commanding 3-0 victory over...

In a thrilling encounter at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, Al Nassr secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League with a commanding 3-0 victory over Iran’s Esteghlal on March 10, 2025. The match marked a significant milestone for the Saudi club, as they continue their quest for continental glory.

The home side, led by the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, made a swift impact on the game. Just nine minutes into the match, Colombian striker Jhon Jader Durán opened the scoring by capitalizing on a defensive error from Esteghlal's goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini. Durán expertly lifted the ball over the stranded keeper from 25 meters out, marking his first goal in the prestigious tournament. Watch the highlights of the game here

Al Nassr doubled their lead shortly thereafter when Ronaldo converted a penalty in the 27th minute. The opportunity arose after Sadio Mané was fouled inside the box by Esteghlal's Mohammad Niknafs. With characteristic composure, Ronaldo struck the ball down the middle, bringing his tally to seven goals in this year’s competition.

The situation worsened for Esteghlal just before halftime when Mehran Ahmadi received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Mohammed Al-Fatil, reducing his team to ten men and complicating their chances of a comeback.

As the second half unfolded, Al Nassr maintained their dominance, creating several scoring opportunities. Durán nearly added to his tally but struck the post before sealing his brace six minutes from time with a precise low shot into the corner of the net.

This victory not only propels Al Nassr into the quarter-finals but also keeps alive their dream of claiming their first Asian championship title. The team will face fellow Saudi side Al Sadd in the next round, with matches scheduled to take place in Jeddah from April 25 to May 3 as part of a centralized tournament format.

Reflecting on the match, Mané expressed satisfaction with their performance, stating, "We created numerous opportunities and managed to score three times. It feels like we earned our reward." With this win, Al Nassr continues to build momentum as they aim for continental supremacy in Asian football.