Ronaldo fires Al Nassr into Champions League semi-finals with 4-1 win over Yokohama
In the evening fixture, Ronaldo, seeking his first major trophy with Al Nassr, continued his fine goalscoring form. He netted the third goal for his side, capping off a stellar performance.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Al Nassr secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday, propelling the Riyadh-based club into the Asian Champions League semi-finals.
Al Nassr's win made them the third Saudi Arabian team to reach the final four of the prestigious tournament.
Earlier, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino were on target for Al Ahli, who, effectively playing as hosts after the tournament's revamped format saw the final rounds staged in Jeddah, beat Thailand's Buriram United 3-0 at King Abdullah Sports City.
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In the evening fixture, Ronaldo, seeking his first major trophy with Al Nassr, continued his fine goalscoring form. He netted the third goal for his side, capping off a stellar performance.
The 40-year-old was involved in Al Nassr's first real chance of the match, when he back-heeled Marcelo Brozovic's pass into the path of the Croatian midfielder. However, Park Il-gyu, Yokohama's goalkeeper, was able to parry Brozovic's shot away.
Yokohama, who were last year's runners-up, had parted ways with former England assistant manager Steve Holland just a week earlier. Midway through the first half, winter signing Jhon Duran had the chance to test Park, but his effort went well off target.
Duran did break the deadlock in the 27th minute. A cross from Sadio Mane was miscleared by Yokohama defender Thomas Deng, crashing against his own post. Duran was quick to pounce, tapping the ball into the empty net from close range.
Just four minutes later, Al Nassr doubled their lead. A swift counter-attack ended with Otavio setting up Mane, who fired a low shot past Park into the near post.
Ronaldo then got his name on the scoresheet seven minutes before half-time. Park could only palm Brozovic's deflected shot into the air, and Ronaldo reacted quickly, volleying home from inside the six-yard box.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who is the top scorer in this season's Saudi Pro League, now has eight goals in seven appearances in this season's Champions League, just one short of the joint-top scorers Riyad Mahrez, Salem Al-Dawsari, Anderson, and Jasir Asani.
Duran added his second of the night in the 49th minute, finishing off a Ronaldo-led counter-attack. The Colombian striker capitalised on a rebound to make it 4-0 for Al Nassr.
Yokohama pulled one back three minutes later through Kota Watanabe, who fired a low strike beyond Brazilian goalkeeper Bento.
Ronaldo was substituted in the 66th minute, with manager Stefano Pioli turning his attention to the upcoming semi-final match. Watanabe was later sent off for a second yellow card, reducing Yokohama to 10 men for the final stretch of the game.
Al Nassr will face either Qatar's Al Sadd or Japan's Kawasaki Frontale in the semi-finals, with those teams meeting on Sunday. In the other semi-final, to be played on Tuesday, four-time Asian champions Al Hilal will take on fellow Saudi side Al Ahli.
