Al-Nassr booked their place within the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals after beating 10-man Esteghlal 3-0 of their second leg conflict, with Jhon Duran netting a brace.
Cristiano Ronaldo was additionally heading in the right direction for Stefano Pioli’s aspect, who’ve now reached the ultimate eight of the competitors for the fifth time of their historical past.
Al-Nassr had been forward within the ninth minute when a poor clearance by Esteghlal goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini, with Duran choosing up the ball and lobbing the ball into the web.
The hosts got the possibility to double their benefit simply earlier than the half-hour mark after Sadio Mane was fouled inside the realm by Mohammad Niknafs.
Ronaldo stepped up and brilliantly dispatched the penalty, inserting the ball down the center to notch his sixth purpose within the competitors to date this season.
And it went from unhealthy to worse for Esteghlal in first-half stoppage time when Mehran Ahmadi was despatched off after choosing up his second yellow card when he caught Mohammed Al-Fatil within the face with a flailing arm.
Al-Nassr continued to dominate the competition after the break, with Aiman Yahya seeing his effort cleared off the road, with Duran hanging the woodwork on the follow-up.
However the former Aston Villa ahead would notch his brace six minutes from time, accumulating Angelo’s cross earlier than rifling the ball into the underside left nook together with his proper foot.
Information Debrief: Al-Nassr discover their capturing boots
Having been held to a disappointing draw within the first leg towards their Iranian opponents, Al-Nassr ensured they discovered their medical edge on Monday to ease previous Esteghlal.
The hosts ended the competition with an anticipated objectives (xG) whole of two.53 from their 22 photographs, in comparison with their opponents’ measly 0.06 from the three makes an attempt they mustered.
Ronaldo additionally ended his three-game purpose drought towards sides from Iran, having scored a minimum of as soon as towards groups from each nation he has confronted within the competitors. He ended the competition having had extra photographs heading in the right direction (three) and touches within the opposition field (eight) than any of his team-mates.
Al-Nassr have additionally now saved a clear sheet in 5 of their 10 video games within the AFC Champions League. Solely Yokohama F. Marinos (seven) have managed extra on this yr’s competitors.
