Cristiano Ronaldo is a just two matches away from winning his first trophy with Al Nassr and ending his two years wait for a silverware.
The Manchester United legend starred for Al Nassr as they grabbed a deserved 3-1 win over Moroccan club, Raja Casablanca, to seal a place in the last four of 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup semifinal.
The tournament which features top clubs from Arab countries across the world has seen Al Nassr break off from their mixed fortunes in this year’s preseason clash against European teams.
After two defeats against Portuguese side Benfica and LaLiga side Celta Vigo, and two consecutive draws against PSG and Inter Milan, Cristiano Ronaldo has upped his game, helping the Saudi Pro League side seal four consecutive wins in Arab Club Champions Cup.
Ronaldo scored in Al Nassr last two wins in the competition before netting again in the quarterfinal clash against Raja Casablanca at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium in Saudi Arabia.
It was morale booster for the Real Madrid all-time topscorer as he led Al Nassr to a big win over the Moroccan club, who have won the tournament two times.
Raja Casablanca had the game in their hands, taking charge of proceedings but fell to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 9th-minute strike.
An offensive led by Al Nassr’s new deadly trio, comprising of Talisca, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane, tore down the defenses of the African club, allowing Ronaldo to score a stunning long ranger from outside the box to give Al Nassr the lead.
Raja Casablanca still stayed atop proceedings and tried to fight their way back into the game but were handed another blow in the 19th minute when Al Ghanam doubled the lead for Al Nassr against the run of play.
Raja Casablanca’s defensive lapses saw Ghanam navigate his way into the penalty area and fire from close range pass Raja Casablanca’s goalie, Anas Zniti, to make it 2-0.
The 2022/23 Saudi Pro League runners-up then began to take charge of the game after the second goal, dominating proceedings and looking set to cruise to an easy victory over the Moroccan club.
Few minutes to the end of the first half, Al Nassr put the game beyond the two-time champions as Fofana capitalised on Marcelo Brozovic and Alex Telles’s setpiece to head home Al Nassr’s third goal.
However, before the first half break, Raja Casablanca fought back with a lifeline goal in the 41st minute, thanks to an own goal by Al Nassr’s Madu.
Madu’s own goal proved to be the game’s last goal as both sides failed to find the back of the net in the second half with Al Nassr running away with a 3-1 win after the final whistle to seal a place in the semifinals of the competition.
The major talking point in the game is Cristiano Ronaldo’s attempt to end his two-year wait for a silverware in his legendary career.
Cristiano Ronaldo last won a trophy with Juventus after he clinched the Coppa Italia in 2021. He narrowly lost out of the Saudi Pro League title last season, and also crashed out of the Saudi Super Cup, and Kings Cup.
The 38-year-old will be hoping to end his trophy deadlock as Al Nassr cruised to the next level of the competition.
Al Nassr plays Al Shorta at the same stadium on 9 August 2023 for a place in the finals of the competition.
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