RIYADH — Adam Ounas scored a dramatic penalty deep into injury time as Qatar's Al Sadd SC defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr Club 2-1 on Monday, securing their place in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 knockout stage. The victory lifted Al Sadd to 12 points, one behind Al Nassr, who had already qualified but suffered their first defeat of the campaign. Notably absent from the starting lineup was Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr's talismanic captain, who has scored over 15 goals across all competitions this season. The match started with a flurry of chances for both sides. Al Nassr's Talisca missed early opportunities, including hitting the post in the 17th minute following a counter-attack orchestrated by Sadio Mane and Angelo. Al Sadd's Cristo Gonzalez and Akram Afif tested Al Nassr's defense, but the first half ended goalless. Al Sadd found the breakthrough in the 53rd minute when Akram Afif latched onto a long pass from Gonzalez, surging past Al Nassr's defense to score. Al Nassr responded with relentless pressure, and their efforts were rewarded in the 80th minute when Wesley's shot deflected off Romain Saiss for an own goal to level the score. In the dying minutes, Afif's blistering pace drew a foul in the box from Mohammed Al Fatil. Ounas calmly converted the penalty in the 99th minute, sealing a crucial win for Al Sadd and confirming their place in the knockout stage. Al Nassr, despite the loss, remains at the top of the group and will aim to bounce back in their next fixture. Al Sadd's victory highlighted their resilience and determination in a high-stakes encounter.
