Cristiano Ronaldo is set to end his two-years trophy drought after powering Al Nassr to Arab Club Champions Cup final.
The Portugal all-time top-scorer seems to be on top of his game even at 38 as he makes the difference in a tight Arab Club Champions Cup semi-final clash against Iraqi side, Al Shorta.
The game nearly ended barren before Cristiano Ronaldo broke the tie after he converted a 75th minute spotkick to give Al Nassr the lead.
The goal was enough to send the 2022/23 Saudi Pro League runners-up to the final of the competition as they defended the lead and ran out with a 1-0 win.
Cristiano Ronaldo nets fourth consecutive goal in Arab Club Champions Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s spotkick goal saw him took his tally in the competition to 4 goals. After a barren 90 minutes draw against Al Shabab in the opening game, Ronaldo has stolen the spotlight in the competition, scoring four goals in four consecutive matches.
The Manchester United legend scored Al Nassr’s second goal as they saw off Monastir 4-1 in the second group game to edge close to qualification to the knockout.
Ronaldo netted a late equaliser against Zamalek in the last group game to seal a place in the quarterfinal of the tournament.
Against Moroccan side and two times champions, Raja Casablanca, in round 16, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opening goal as Al Nassr raced into a 3-1 win to book the semi-final ticket.
The goal against Al Shorta was the fourth consecutive time the five times Ballon d’Or winner has scored in the competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo wins Arab Club Champions Cup Golden Boot
Cristiano Ronaldo was bizarrely awarded the competition’s Golden Boot award after he netted his fourth goal against Al Shorta.
The golden boot award is controversial since there is still a match – the final – remaining in the competition with other goal-scorers still in the competition.
Karim Benzema was the only player who had three goals – a goal behind Cristiano Ronaldo – before Al Ittihad crashed out of the competition. It is believed the exit of Karim Benzema and Al Ittihad must have necessitated officials to hand in the award to Ronaldo but that would have been done after the final on Saturday.
Following the win against Al Shorta, Cristiano Ronaldo helps Al Nassr set up an all-Saudi Arabian clubs Champions Cup final between Al Nassr and Al Hilal.
Al Hilal saw off Dammam to reach the final of the competition. This means Cristiano Ronaldo will face off with former Premier League players Edouard Mendy and Ruben Neves who completed their move to the club this summer from Chelsea and Wolves, respectively.
The two big catch in the Saudi League this summer will hope to stop Ronaldo as they go head-to-head with Al Nassr in the final on Saturday, 12 August 2023 at King Fahd Stadium by 19:00GMT
Despite the confusing Golden Boot Award, football fans will expect a rollercoaster clash between the two Saudi giants as they battle for the trophy at King Fahd Stadium on Saturday, 12 August 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo will hope to end his two-year trophy drought and also clinch his first trophy with Al Nassr after a trophyless debut spell last summer.
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