In a tight Asian Champions League last 16 clash in Riyadh on Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldo broke Al-Fayha’s resistance nine minutes from the end, securing a 1-0 victory for Al-Nassr, his fellow Saudi Pro League side.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward finally found the net after a challenging evening for Luis Castro’s team. Ronaldo capitalized on a lofted return pass from Marcelo Brozovic, volleying past Vladimir Stojkovic to seal Al-Nassr’s win.
The second leg between the two teams is scheduled for next Wednesday in Riyadh, with a quarter-final spot up for grabs. Ronaldo, at 39, had faced some challenges during the match, being denied by Stojkovic in the first half and seeing his 64th-minute header saved before contributing to the crucial goal later in the game.