A late penalty secured Al-Sadd a 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr, ending the Saudi club’s unbeaten streak in the AFC Champions League Elite. Ronaldo, who had scored five goals in his previous three matches, was rested as Al-Nassr had already secured their place in the round of 16.
The match began with chances for both sides, as Al Nassr’s Talisca missed key opportunities, including hitting the post in the 17th minute after a swift counter-attack involving Sadio Mane and Angelo. Meanwhile, Al Sadd’s Cristo Gonzalez and Akram Afif kept Al Nassr’s defense under pressure, but the first half ended scoreless.
Al Sadd broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Akram Afif capitalized on a long ball from Gonzalez, outpacing Al Nassr’s defense to find the net. Al Nassr pushed forward in search of an equalizer, and their persistence paid off in the 80th minute when Wesley’s effort deflected off Romain Saiss for an own goal.
In dramatic fashion, Afif’s electric pace won a penalty in the 99th minute after being fouled by Mohammed Al Fatil. Ounas stepped up to convert the spot-kick, securing a vital 2-1 victory for Al Sadd and guaranteeing their progression to the knockout stages.
Despite the defeat, Al Nassr retains their position atop the group and will look to regroup for their upcoming match. Al Sadd’s triumph showcased their grit and determination in a crucial, pressure-filled clash. The win propelled Al Sadd to 12 points, narrowing the gap to just one behind Al Nassr.
“It was a tough and close game,” Al-Sadd coach Felix Sanchez said. “We worked hard to stop Al-Nassr having the ball, and to win at their home stadium. The players showed their character.”
النصر للزعيم ✌🏻⚪️⚫️#السد | #دائما_مع_السد pic.twitter.com/SYDcoefjA6
— 🏆 #79 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) December 2, 2024
Al Nassr’s focus will now return to the Saudi Pro League when they will face league leaders Al Ittihad in a crucial top of the table clash on Friday, 6 December.
Earlier in the day, Ivan Toney’s two penalties secured a 2-2 draw for group leaders Al-Ahli against Esteghlal. The match marked Pitso Mosimane’s return to Jeddah after his 2023 dismissal, making him the first coach to claim points against his former club in this tournament. In other matches, Iran’s Persepolis secured a 2-1 victory over Iraq’s Al-Shorta, while Al-Wasl from the United Arab Emirates played to a 1-1 draw with Qatar’s Al-Rayyan. The top eight teams from both groups will advance to the knockout stage.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
