AL NASSR
Cristiano helps Al Nassr to 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup semi final place
Al Nassr had too much for Raja Casablanca with the Portuguese striker opening the scoring before Al Ghannam and Fofana put the tie to bed. The side from Riyadh now face Al Shorta in the semifinals.
Cristiano Ronaldo is just two steps away from winning his first title with Al Nassr. The Portuguese was instrumental in the side from Riyadh overcoming Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca in the quarter-final of the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup with a 3-1 win. Al Nassr are a new force to be reckoned with the team now boastings talents such as Talisca, Brozovic, Fofana and Sadio Mané.
It took Al Nassr less than twenty minutes to open the scoring as Madu played a long ball to Talisca which the Brazilian controlled and left Cristiano free to do slot home as the trademark Siuuu resounded in Abha. Just ten minutes later, the Saudi side doubled their lead as Al Khaibari found Al Ghannam who made no mistake in finding the Raja net. Al Nassr put the contest beyond doubt before the break as Brozovic found Telles who delivered the assist for Fofana to make it 0-3. The only setback in the half for the Saudi Pro League was an own goal from Madu as he deflected a cross from Zrida into his own net.
Al Nassr were under more sustained pressure in the second half as Raja Casablanca did their best to claw their way back into the tie but were thwarted time and time again by Al Nassr stopper Nawaf who was inspired form.
The Riyadh side advance to the semi-finals and will play Iraq’s Al Shorta as Al Hilal and Al Shabab face off in the other semi-final contest.
The 2023 Arab Club Champions will be decided in Saturday’s final which will be staged at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Abha, Saudi Arabia).