Al Nassr 4-3 (1-3 pens) Al Ain: summary, score, goals, highlights | AFC Champions League
Al Nassr - Al Ain live online: as it happened
Incredible drama at Al Awwal Park which ultimately ends in heartbreak for CR7 and his Al Nassr side as they came back on a number of times during the contest only to fall short on a penalty shoot out.
Al Ain progress to the semifinals of the AFC Champions League and will meet the winner of Al Hilal-Al Ittihad with the Riyadh based side holding a 2-0 first leg advantage.
Otavio blazes wide and Al Ain win and progress to the semifinals of the AFC Champions League.
Next up for Al Ain is Sultan who makes no mistake and Al Ain lead 1-3.
Pressure now on CR7...
The man from Madeira slots home.
Advantage to Al Ain as Kaku slots home for a 0-2 lead for the UAE side.
Next up for Al Nassr is Telles and the man from Portugal hits the crossbar.
First up for Al Ain is Soufiane Rahimi and the Moroccan slots home.
Al Nassr 0-1 Al Ain (pens)
Brozovic set to shoot first for Al Nassr who are shooting into the end where their fans are packed.
The Croatian player has his effort saved.
What a 120 minutes of rollercoaster emotions ....
Al Ain taking a 0-2 lead.... Al Nassr pulling it back to 3-2, the red card, the visitors drawing level and the calm spot kick finish from CR7 !
You could not pen a more dramatic script...
now do we have a final twist in the tale ?
That's it ... the whistle sounds...
penalty kicks to decide the first semifinalist
This has been gripping from beginning to end and is a tie that has had it all....
seven goals, controversy, red cards, VAR calls and plenty of drama and tension !
Three minutes of time have been added on
CR7 cool as you like dinks the ball down the centre and Al Nassr are level on aggregate.
Ronaldo to take ... what a pressure kick !
VAR awards the spot kick.
Ref hesitates and then points to the spot.
A soft penalty I think it's called.
Penalty for Al Nassr as Cristiano is fouled in the box.
Nothing is going Cristiano's way tonight as his shot is well blocked and the Portuguese cuts a very frustrated figure indeed.
CR7 to take again....
Telles in the end shoots and fires into the wall.
Al Nassr secure a dangerous free as Mane is clipped.
Nervy time for Al Ain
Ten minutes remaining in the contest.
Al Nassr look shattered.
Al Ain moving the ball around sensibly making their extra player advantage count as they deny Al Nassr of any possession.
Al Ain almost add to their tally and Al Nassr break and CR7 is through on goal but blazes the ball straight at the Al Ain keeper.
That was a golden oportuinity for the home side.
Al Ain start the final action as the second period of extra time starts.
That's the end of the first period of extra time.
Advantage to Al Ain who are just 15 minutes away from a place in the AFC Champions League semifinals.
Raghed Al-Najjar is almost in tears as the Al Nassr stopper realises that his error could be very very costly.
Free for Al Nassr... guess who... correct...
CR7 fires into the wall again and has failed to impress from the deadball situations as three minutes of added time have been awarded.
A howler from the Al Nassr keeper as he spills an easy cross and Al Shamsi taps home
100 minutes of action gone and little football played in this extra time period with tension the name of the game with neither side willing to give an inch.
Ayman is off and Al Nassr must play the remainder of the contest with ten men
VAR check and that could be a red card for Al Nassr's Ayman as he lunges at an opponent.
Good refereeing and the correct call for a cynical foul.
Little to report in the first five minutes of added time....
22 tired players on the playing surface at this stage of the game.
Which side has the physical and mental fortitude to prevail.
Even 39-year-old Cristiano looks knackered but there is no way the striker will want to be subbed.
He'll be the first name on the sheet in the eventuality of a spot kick shoot-out.
A series of mis-placed passes now as tired legs become a factor for both teams.
Al Nassr get the first 15 minutes underway.
Should things be level after another 30 minutes of action, the tie will then be decided on a penalty shoot-out.
Extra time coming up!
Al Ain almost snatch it at the death but the effort is straight at the Nassr keeper.
This is certainly set to be the last passage of play.
Al Nassr win a free.... and it comes to nothing.
Thee whistle sound and it's extra time.
Mane breaks into the Al Ain box but the Senegal striker is wasteful and Al Ain break.
Free awarded for Al Ain deep inside the Al Nassr half and danger here for the home side as they have to be alert.
Romero to swing the ball in.
Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem heads away and the Al Nassr keeper eventually gathers.
Fatil off and Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem on for Al Nassr
Nine minutes of additional time will be played.
Players pulling up now with cramp after an intense 90 minutes of action.
Last minute of the 90 and both teams have taken a step back and seem resigned to extra time.
Otavio and Rahimi are carded for an exchange as tensions flare on the pitch.
Nerves are jangling now as one mistake could prove costly.
Tired legs and cramp a factor now as Ghareeb pulls up with muscle fatigue.
Al Ain break and Soufiane Rahimi is fouled on the edge of the Al Nassr box but the ref. misses the incident and play continues.
A frantic last ten minutes coming up.
The script is set...
What price on CR7 bagging the winner for Al Nassr?
My word, the decibel levels at Al Awwal Park have been cranked up to 11...
Al Nassr fans dreaming ....
the tie is now just level though.
less than 15 minutes left.
The Portuguese player sees his free kick squirm through a number of players and ends up in the net.
Al Nassr have done it and now the tie is level.
Mane carded and is lucky to be just awarded a yellow as he grabs a rival player by the throat.
CR7 looks for a free and the ref turns his back on the striker.
The official and the Portugal star are not on the same wavelength tonight.
Things getting a little tenso now as the clock ticks down.
Otavio picks up a booking with just over 20 minutes left to play.
Al Ain desperately defend and one senses that the third goal for the home side is merely just a question of time as the ball falls to Mane who volleys inches wide.
Al Nassr change as Amri is off and Aiman takes his place.
What have we just seen there ?
Ronaldo is gifted a shot from two feet and incredibly slots the ball wide of the mark.
That is a howler from the striker.
Thirty minutes left for CR7 and his side.
Al Nassr win a corner and the pressure at the moment is relentless.
Al Ain are there for the taking as Hernan Crespo bellow instructions at his side.
Still some way to go for the home side as they still need to keep Al Ain at bay and bag another goal to force extra time.
What an error from Eisa with the AFC awarding the keeper with an og!
Game on in Riyadh
Al Nassr score again and it's Otavio who finds the target as the keeper spills the ball into his own net.
As Al Nassr push, gaps are being left open in defense.
Al Ain showed that they are more than capable on the break and another goal for the visitors would be a major body blow for the Saudi outfit.
Al Nassr have come out flying and Al Ain are reeling
CR7 rocks the cross bar
What was Telles thinking as the Portuguese takes his time and just he shapes to shoot, has the ball robbed from his foot.
Off we go.
Al Nassr start the action.
The teams return to the pitch at Al Awwal Park and Al Nassr face a massive 45 minutes.
All eyes on Ronaldo. Could the Portuguese star see his dreams of AFC CL glory go up in smoke?
Still no sign of Al Ain.
The half time whistle came at a bad time for Al Nassr, just as the home side had the visitors on the ropes.
Two more goals required (and zero more conceded) is what's needed by Cristiano and co. if they are to keep their AFC Champions League dream alive.
Half time.
A crazy end to the game and Al Ain are ahead but Ghareeb has offered a sliver of hope for the home side with a late goal in the half for the Riyadh side.
Al Nassr pressing again and looking for an equaliser (on the night), the Saudi side still need to find two more as Brozovic is carded.
Ghareeb drills the ball into the empty net after Sadio Mane pulls the Al ain keeper out of position.
Crazy game here !
Luis Castro (Al Nassr coach) looks shell-shocked on the touchline.
Al Nassr are failing to gel tonight.
Ronaldo goes to ground and appeals for a spot kick, the ref waves the striker away.
He is however getting a check from VAR.
No pènalty is the verdict.
Six minutes of time will be added.
Soufiane Rahimi was Al Nassr's undoing with a fine right footed effort.
Drama here at Al Awwal Park as the home side need three goals to stay in the tie.
Al Ain have a man down and Rahimi (the goalscorer) needs medical assistance.
Erik (Al Ain) was also carded and Al Nassr win yet another freekick.
Danger for the UAE side.
Free from Ronaldo and that was not his finest hour as he steers the ball wide.
Five minutes to go in the first half.
Not what was in the script for the Saudi side!
Better from Al Nassr as Brozovic finds Ronaldo and the striker forces a fine stop from the Al Ain keeper.
Baloushi is carded for Al Ain after he hauls down a Nassr player in freeflow.
Al Ain playing full of confidence now as they retain possession and Al Nassr are still reeling from the opening goal.
Still, plenty of time for the Saudi side to turn things around but they need to test the Al Ain keeper and that has not happened that often in the 37 minutes to date.
Nassr need to find two goals to keep their Champions League dream alive
Al Ain go ahead in Riyadh
The crowd at Al Awwal Park have gone quiet with the visiting fans making all the noise now.
Soufiane Rahimi it was who tucked the ball into the net.
The Moroccan was the goal hero for Al Ain last week...
and is again as the goal stands
Moments of tension at Al Awwal Park as the referee speaks to the VAR team.
The ball is in the Al Nassr net.
But was the Al Ain striker offside?
VAR checking
Another corner for Al Nassr and once again, Al Ain are level to the challenge and clear any danger.
It's been an accomplished first 25 minutes from Hernan Crespo's men who are playing in a cauldron like atmosphere.
Should the tie still be level after 120 minutes, then a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine what side advances to the semifinal stage.
There is no away goals rule in the AFC Champions League so a 1-0 win for Al Nassr would see the game go to extra time.
The home side press as Mane wins a corner kick.
CR7 meets the ball but heads well wide.
Possession after 20'
Al Nassr 45-55 Al Ain (%)
Abdullah Al-Khaibari is down and Al Ain fail to put the ball out of play much to the anger of the very partisan home crowd.
The UAE side enjoying more spells of possession now and have weathered the storm.
Dreadful defending from Al Nassr and Al Ain almost find an opening but Al Najjr stands strong in the goal and deflects the danger.
A let off for the home side !
Possession after 10'
Al Nassr 68-32 Al Ain (%)
Erik fouls Mane and Al Nassr have a free just outside the Al Ain box.
Ronaldo over the ball bit the Portugal player's drive is into the wall and the UAE side avert the danger.
Free for Nassr, CR7 the target man.
Fine header on target and a superb stop from Al Ain keeper Eisa to deny the home side.
Best chance of the night.
A wild and frantic start to the tie and one senses that Al Nassr are slowly starting to get into the rhythm of the game.
Al Ain are far from daunted by the task at hand and look the more comfortable side on the ball.
The home fans are really doing their bit to provide that 12th man experience and jeering and whistling the visitors as the move the ball about.
Rahimi almost sneaks in for Al Ain with the UAE based side enjoying the bulk of early possession.
Al Ain start the action.
We're underway in Riyadh.
Wonderful noise levels as the teams take their places on the pitch.
A packed house and a riot of yellow and blue.
Al Nassr-Al Ain: starting XI's
A reminder of the team news for those just joining us with kick-off imminent in Riyadh.
All set at Al Awwal Park
The warm up drills are over and the teams are in the dressing rooms going over last minute preparations.
A matter of minutes to go before the action gets underway in a massive AFC Champions League clash.
Khalid Eisa was the hero in goals for Al Ain last week as the vice captain produced five key saves in their 1-0 win against Al Nassr – more than any other goalkeeper in the quarter-final first legs.
Al Ain not alone tonight
Plenty of travelling fans have made the journey from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh with a riot of purple and white breaking up the yellow and blue at Awwal Park.
With no Talsica in action tonight, goal scoring fans can keep an eye on Al Ain's Rahimi (who bagged the only goal last week in the first leg) along with Togolese Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba who have both bagged six goals in the competition this season so far.
Place in expanded CWC on the line
The winners of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 get an added bonus as they become one of the four AFC representatives at next year's expanded FIFA Club World Cup where 32 teams will participate in the new competition in the US.
At present, Urawa Red Diamonds and Al Hilal have qualified with the winners of this year's competition progressing along with the highest ranked side in the confederation.
Al Nassr fans flock to Awwal Park
As kick off looms, a steady flow of home supporters make their way into the ground with a bumper crowd expected at the 24,000 capacity ground tonight.
In the Eastern side of the draw, K League sides, Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk meet with Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos set to face China's Shandong.
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What awaits the winner in the semifinals?
The other semi-final in the Western side of the AFC Champions League draw is an all Saudi affair as Al Ittihad head to Riyadh looking to turnaround a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.
This will be a tall order with Al Hilal on the cusp of creating a new record for successive wins beating the current landmark held by Welsh side The New Saints FC.
Al Ain domestically
The Abu Dhabi side are in a not dissimilar position to Al Nassr in that they lie in second place in their domestic league and somewhat off the pace.
Al Wasl top the table and just like Al Hilal in the Saud league, the table toppers are unbeaten and look like a solid bet for the UAE league title.
Al Nassr XI
CR7, Sadio Mane, Otavio, Telles and Brozovic all start for the home side as kick off looms.
Team colours for tonight's game
Nassr will be in their trademark yellow as Al Ain too will sport their traditional colours of white with a purple hue.
Al Ain XI confirmed
Al ain head coach Hernan Crespo has named his side ahead of the clash in Riyadh tonight.
CR7 on media duty ahead of the game
The Portuguese striker was in a positive frame of mind when speaking to the media ahead of Monday's clash and was confident that his team would advance to the semifinals of the AFC Champions League.
Al Nassr dreaming of a comeback
If Luis Castro’s side are to stage a comeback, they will do it without striker Anderson Talisca who is now out of action for the rest of the season after having undergone surgery in Milan and the Saudi side will be also without the suspended Laporte with the Spaniard dismissed in the first leg.
Following last week’s home defeat in the Saudi Pro League to Al Raed, Al Nassr have as good as waved farewell to any remote chance they may have had of catching runaway leaders Al Hilal with the Blue Waves unbeaten all season in the league and on the cusp of making history for the longest winning run in football.
With the domestic title out of reach, the AFC Champions League has become a priority for Cristiano Ronaldo and the Riyadh based side although the Faris Najd are still alive in the Saudi Cup, the Asian Champions League is the undoubtedly sought after trophy.
Al Nassr-Al Ain: start time
The action tonight at what is expected to be a packed Al Awwal Park, will kick off at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT.
Cristiano Ronaldo and the home side will be looking to turnaround the 1-0 deficit from the first leg with the winner set to face Al Ittihad/Al Hilal in the semi-final of the AFC Champions League.
Hello and welcome to our live AFC Champions League coverage as Al Nassr welcome Al Ain (UAE) to Riyadh ahead of the second leg of quarterfinal.