DOHA — Al Nassr moved closer to securing a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 knockout stage with a 3-1 victory over Qatar's Al Gharafa at Al Bayt Stadium on Monday. Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the night, scoring twice to take his team to 13 points in the group. The Portuguese legend opened the scoring with a towering header a minute into the second half and sealed the win with a sublime curling effort in the 64th minute. Angelo Gabriel added to the tally in the 58th minute, while Joselu managed a consolation goal for Al Gharafa. Al Nassr threatened early, with Marcelo Brozovic creating an opening for Ronaldo in the third minute, but Al Gharafa goalkeeper Sergio Rico made an easy save. The home side responded in the seventh minute as Yacine Brahimi orchestrated a move down the left, but Joselu and Ferjani Sassi failed to convert inside a crowded box. Sadio Mane continued to exploit Al Gharafa's defensive gaps, setting up Brozovic for a golden opportunity in the 19th minute, only for the Croatian to miss the target. Al Gharafa countered a minute later with Brahimi feeding Wajdi Kechrida, whose effort forced a save from Al Nassr's keeper Bento. Controversy erupted before the half-hour mark when Matías Nani brought down Mane in the box, but a VAR review dismissed Al Nassr's penalty appeal. Ronaldo had a chance to break the deadlock in the 31st minute but angled his header wide, and the first half ended goalless despite Al Nassr's dominance. The breakthrough came just a minute into the second half when Sultan Al Ghannam delivered a pinpoint cross for Ronaldo, who headed home emphatically. Angelo doubled the lead in the 58th minute, receiving a precise through ball from Otavio before dribbling past Rico for a composed finish. Ronaldo added his second and Al Nassr's third six minutes later, curling a spectacular shot from inside the area that left Rico helpless. Al Gharafa pulled one back in the 75th minute through Joselu, who converted after Bento parried his initial effort. However, their hopes were dashed when Seydou Sano was sent off in the 84th minute for a second yellow card after a foul on Mane. Al Nassr will look to maintain their winning streak against Qatar's Al Sadd next Tuesday, while Al Gharafa faces another Saudi giant, Al Hilal SFC.
