FanNation Futbol

Cristiano Ronaldo Scores Winning Goal Against Iraqi Side Al-Shorta To Send Al Nassr Into Final Of Arab Club Champions Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo has reached his first final with Al Nassr. Ronaldo scored a penalty as Al Nassr beat Al-Shorta SC in the Arab Club Champions Cup semi-finals.

Robert Summerscales

Cristiano Ronaldo Scores Winning Goal Against Iraqi Side Al-Shorta To Send Al Nassr Into Final Of Arab Club Champions Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo Scores Winning Goal Against Iraqi Side Al-Shorta To Send Al Nassr Into Final Of Arab Club Champions Cup /

Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has reached his first final since moving to Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo led Al Nassr to a 1-0 win over Iraqi champions Al-Shorta SC in the semi-finals of the Arab Club Champions Cup on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old successfully converted a 75th-minute penalty kick after a VAR review found that Sadio Mane had been fouled by Faisal Jasim Nafil Al Manaa.

Al Nassr were good value for their victory, having dominated the game at Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.

The Saudi Pro League side had 64% of possession and registered 15 shots to Al-Shorta's six.

Ronaldo also had a goal disallowed in the first half following a close offside call.

Al Nassr will now face Saudi rivals Al-Hilal in the final on Saturday.

Highlights: Al Nassr 1-0 Al-Shorta

Cristiano Ronaldo pictured (right) celebrating a goal with Al Nassr teammate Sadio Mane during a 1-0 win over Al-Shorta in the semi-finals of the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo pictured (right) celebrating a goal with Al Nassr teammate Sadio Mane during Wednesday's 1-0 win over Al-Shorta / SSC

Ronaldo has now scored in four consecutive games in the Arab Club Champions Cup.

After drawing a blank in a 0-0 draw with Al-Shabab in Al Nassr's Group C opener, the Portugal legend netted in a 4-1 win over Tunisia's Union Monastirienne.

His 87th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Egyptian champions Zamalek later saw Al Nassr qualify for the last eight in dramatic fashion.

Ronaldo then opened the scoring in a 3-1 victory over Morocco's Raja CA in the quarter-finals.

Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo pictured in July 2023 during a pre-season friendly against Inter Milan
Ronaldo has reached his first final as an Al Nassr player :: IMAGO/AFLOSPORT

Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January - 40 days after his contract with Manchester United had been terminated.

His second game for Al Nassr was a 3-1 loss to Al-Ittihad in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup.

Al Nassr then exited last season's King Cup in April when they lost 1-0 at home to Al-Wehda.

Despite topping the Saudi Pro League table for much of the 2022/23 campaign, Al Nassr eventually finished five points behind champions Al-Ittihad.

Published
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.