On Tuesday in Dubai, Aymeric Laporte scored nine minutes from the end to secure a 1-0 victory for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr against Andranik Eskandarian’s Esteghlal of Iran, further consolidating the Saudi Pro League clubs’ supremacy in the league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite.
This victory elevates the Riyadh-based club to seven points from their first three fixtures, two points adrift of compatriots Al Hilal and Al Ahli who are at the top of the unified continental club championship.
Al Shabab are a point further behind after a late comeback by the United Arab Emirates side edged out Qatar’s Al Gharafa 2-1 in Doha.
The match would end 2-1 favoring Al Wasl as Ferjani Sassi scored the first goal one minute prior to half time, though Fabio Lima would equalize the match in the 84th minute, but it would be Isaac Success who won the match in the 92nd minute marking the team’s second victory in three games.
In Dubai, Al Nassr was held to a draw by a tough Esteghlal side who there was no option but to host the match away from home due to security issues within Iran.
It wasn’t until the 81st minute when goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini confined the team of Stefano Pioli until he managed to deflect Ronaldo’s shot from an open header, causing a mad scramble allowing Laporte to go up and head the ball in from the rebounding effort.
As for Al Nasr, the victory put them into contention for the knockout rounds as the top eight out of twelve teams in both eastern and western Asia emerge during the league stage.
March will see the first leg of the round of 16 matches being away and home in nature, while Saudi Arabia will host the quarter finals, semi finals and final in the month of April and May respectively.
Watch the best part! Last minute winner of Laporte leads Al Nassr to the Asian Champions League win. Laporte header earns Al Nassr victory in Asian Champions League