Photos: Reuters
Aymeric Laporte's late goal secured a 1-0 victory for Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr over Esteghlal of Iran in Dubai on Tuesday, as Saudi Pro League clubs continue to excel in the league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite. The Riyadh-based club now has seven points from their first three games, trailing leaders Al Hilal and Al Ahli by two points in the restructured continental club championship. Meanwhile, Al Wasl from the United Arab Emirates are one point behind after a 2-1 comeback win against Qatar's Al Gharafa in Doha. Ferjani Sassi had given the hosts the lead just before halftime, but Fabio Lima equalized with six minutes left, and Isaac Success scored the winner in stoppage time, securing Al Wasl's second win in three games.
In Dubai, Al Nassr faced a resilient Esteghlal side, who were forced to play on neutral ground due to security issues in Iran. Goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini kept Stefano Pioli's team at bay until the 81st minute when he deflected Ronaldo's header, allowing Laporte to nod in the rebound. This win positions Al Nassr well for a potential advancement to the knockout rounds, where the top eight teams from the 12-team leagues in both East and West Asia will compete. The round of 16 will be played in a home-and-away format in March, while the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will be single-match fixtures held in Saudi Arabia in April and May.
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