Al-Nassr Dominates Istiklol with 4-0 Victory in AFC Champions League Two

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr faced off against Istiklol at the Markazii Jumhuriyavii Stadium in Tajikistan for an AFC Champions League Two match. The visitors claimed a commanding 4-0 victory, notably without their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, who was excluded from the matchday squad.

Head coach Jorge Jesus opted for a heavily rotated lineup, also resting prominent players such as Sadio Mane and Inigo Martinez. Similarly, Kingsley Coman was absent from the roster. Nevertheless, Al-Nassr maintained their momentum throughout the match.

Felix, in remarkable form, initiated the scoring in the 12th minute by successfully converting a penalty past Istiklol’s goalkeeper, Nikola Stosic. Just five minutes before halftime, Mohamed Simakan, a former RB Leipzig player, extended the lead to 2-0, allowing Al-Nassr to head into the break with a strong advantage.

During much of the second half, Al-Nassr controlled the game without fully exerting themselves. However, the substitutions of Sadio Mane and Ayman Yahya added to Istiklol’s woes. Mane, benefiting from Felix’s assist, sealed the game with a goal in the 84th minute, while Yahya capped off the impressive performance with a stoppage-time goal.

As Ronaldo approaches his 41st birthday, he continues to set high standards for himself and his teammates. Following a disappointing 2024-25 season where Al-Nassr finished third in the Saudi Pro League, the team secured a position in the AFC Champions League Two, a secondary continental competition in Asia, behind the more prestigious AFC Champions League.

To date, Al-Nassr has won all five of their group stage matches, including previous victories against FC Goa in India and Al-Zawraa in Iraq. Despite this perfect start, Ronaldo has not been included in any matchday squad for the AFC Champions League Two this season, making his participation in the final group match against Al-Zawraa next month appear unlikely.

“I thought this was the best time to rest Cristiano Ronaldo,” coach Jesus remarked ahead of an earlier AFC Champions League Two match. “He’s currently 40 years old, and we fear he might suffer injuries, which is why I decided to exclude him. For matches outside Saudi Arabia, we chose to rest Ronaldo. We need to preserve his fitness.”

After stints at Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, and AC Milan, Felix arrived at Al-Nassr aiming to revive his once-promising career. The 26-year-old has made a sensational start, scoring 14 goals in 15 games, surpassing even Ronaldo in the scoring charts across all competitions.

Over his illustrious career of more than two decades, Ronaldo has achieved numerous accolades, yet his insatiable desire for success continues to distinguish him. He remains an invaluable asset, both in the penalty area and as a leader, inspiring those around him with his elite mentality.

However, the FIFA World Cup remains elusive for him. Although he has stated that winning the trophy will not alter his legacy, he remains immensely motivated to capture the global title. Scoring his 1,000th professional goal while leading Portugal’s quest next year would be a remarkable achievement.