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Cristiano Ronaldo's 87th-Minute Goal Keeps Al Nassr In Arab Club Champions Cup As Sadio Mane Makes Debut In 1-1 Draw With Zamalek

Cristiano Ronaldo scored an 87th-minute goal against Zamalek to save Al Nassr from Arab Club Champions Cup elimination on Sadio Mane's debut.

Robert Summerscales

Cristiano Ronaldo's 87th-Minute Goal Keeps Al Nassr In Arab Club Champions Cup As Sadio Mane Makes Debut In 1-1 Draw With Zamalek
Cristiano Ronaldo's 87th-Minute Goal Keeps Al Nassr In Arab Club Champions Cup As Sadio Mane Makes Debut In 1-1 Draw With Zamalek /

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late equalizer to keep Al Nassr in the Arab Club Champions Cup on Thursday.

The 38-year-old headed home his second goal of the season with a powerful finish 87 minutes into a 1-1 draw with Egyptian champions Zamalek.

A defeat would have seen Al Nassr finish third in Group C and face elimination from the tournament. But Ronaldo's intervention resulted in his side progressing as group runners-up behind fellow Saudi side Al-Shabab.

Al Nassr went into Thursday's game as favorites to beat Zamalek, although Ronaldo and Co needed only a draw to go through.

New signing Sadio Mane was introduced as a substitute at half-time after Al Nassr had been the marginally better side during a tight first 45 minutes.

The Senegal star almost marked his debut with a goal within 121 seconds of his introduction but he aimed a volley just wide following a fine cross by Alex Telles.

Telles, who joined Al Nassr from Manchester United earlier this summer, then conceded a penalty kick at the other end moments later.

The Brazilian full-back was found guilty of handball following a VAR review.

Egypt winger Ahmed Sayed, who goes by the nickname Zizo, coolly converted from 12 yards with a confident low strike.

Al Nassr now needed to score to avoid elimination.

Zamalek keeper Mohamed Sobhy was rarely tested and it looked like his side were going to hold on until Ronaldo rose superbly to redirect a Ghislain Konan cross into the back of the net.

Al Nassr will face Moroccan outfit Raja Club Athletic in the last eight in Abha on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo pictured playing for Al Nassr in July 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late equalizer as Al Nassr drew 1-1 with Zamalek on Thursday :: IMAGO/AFLOSPORT
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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.