Al-Nassr were on song at Al-Awwal Park as they won 3-0 in the second leg of their AFC Champions League round of 16 clash against Esteghlal.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's hunt for his first trophy with Al-Nassr has continued this season but the Al-Alami look all but out of the Saudi Pro League title race and have already crashed out of the King Cup of Champions. As such, Al-Nassr have shifted their focus towards the AFC Champions League and faced Esteghlal in the second-leg of their last 16 tie at Al-Awwal Park after a dull 0-0 draw in Iran last week.
Al-Nassr were expected to be the dominant force on the night against Esteghlal, who have been struggling this season, and Stefano Pioli's side started the clash in a strong fashion with a high-press. The hosts then took the lead in the ninth minute after Esteghlal keeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini attempted to clear the ball but put it straight into Jhon Duran's path. The Colombian then chipped the keeper from the edge of the box, and despite Hosseini getting his fingers on the shot, the ball found its way into the back of the net.
Esteghlal continued to struggle and then shot themselves in the foot yet again as Roozbeh Cheshmi caught Sadio Mane in the box after Ronaldo's threatening backheel set the Senegal international through on goal. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner converted the penalty to double Al-Nassr's lead on the night. Thing then got even worse for Esteghlal in first-half injury time as winger Mehran Ahmadi was given his second yellow of the night after elbowing Mohammed Al-Fatil.
Pioli's side took complete control in the second half, but squandered two golden chances to add to their last in the 49th minute. Despite his mistake in giving Al-Nassr the opener, Esteghlal keeper Hosseini was on top form throughout the second half as he made a number of saves to deny the hosts.
Nonetheless, Esteghlal conceded the third goal of the night when Duran was found with a perfect through-ball from Angelo, and Hosseini was unable to stop the powerful strike. The win sees Al-Nassr safely into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.
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Marcelo Brozovic had one of his best games of the season at Al-Awwal Park against Esteghlal as the Croatian dominated the midfield and dictated most of Al-Nassr's attacks. The midfielder finished the game with a total of six key passes, and he also completed over 100 passes on the night. Additionally, Brozovic was also able to halt a number of Esteghlal counters before they started.
THE BIG LOSER
Esteghlal were solely to blame for their loss to Al-Nassr as the Iranian side put in a tame showing and allowed Al-Nassr to dominate possession and rotate the ball around their box multiple times. However, their main faults came on the back of two individual mistakes, while Ahmadi's sending off diminished their hopes even further.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Al-Nassr will now return to Saudi Pro League action when they take on Al Kholood on Friday, March 14, as they look to end their two-game winless streak in the league and keep up their chase of Al-Qadsiyah for the final AFC Champions League spot.