Al Nassr, Ronaldo Reach Asian Champions League Two Final Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of a major title in Saudi Arabia took a significant step forward as Al Nassr advanced to the Asian Champions League Two final with a commanding 5-1 victory over Qatar’s Al Ahli SC in the semifinals. The win, secured on Wednesday, sets up a showdown against Japanese side Gamba Osaka on May 16 in Riyadh. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in 2022, captained his team to the triumph, marking a pivotal moment in his career as he continues to chase success in the Saudi Pro League and continental competitions. The Portuguese forward took to Instagram to express his pride in the team’s achievement, writing, “Proud of the team. The final is waiting!” His comments underscored the significance of the milestone, particularly given his long-standing quest for a major trophy since moving to Saudi Arabia. Al Nassr’s coach, Jorge Jesus, praised his players’ performance, stating, “We reached our goal, to reach the final. We showed a lot of quality in this game. The players are in a very good moment.” Jesus highlighted the team’s physical and mental resilience, noting that maintaining such a high level of play every three days requires exceptional fitness and focus. Looking ahead to the final, Jesus remained cautious but optimistic, emphasizing that the challenge lies in reaching the stage rather than winning it. “In a final there are two teams and one has to lose! The difficult thing is to get there, that’s what we did. We’ve reached the final, now anything can happen!” His remarks reflect the pressure of the upcoming match while acknowledging the team’s readiness. Al Nassr’s journey to the final has been marked by consistency, as they currently lead the Saudi Pro League by eight points with five games remaining.#cristiano_ronaldo #jorge_jesus #al_nassr #al_ahli_sc #gamba_osaka
Al Ahli eye semi-final berth in clash against Al Hussein Doha, Qatar: Al Ahli SC step into their defining match of the season with everything on the line, facing Al Hussein SC in a no-margin-for-error AFC Champions League (ACL) Two quarter-final at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai today. For Al Ahli, this is it. A difficult domestic campaign that will end in the bottom half of the Qatar Stars League leaves continental success as their only route to salvage pride. Yet their Asian run tells a different story—composed, efficient, and resilient. They topped Group B with 10 points, then edged Iran’s Sepahan 3-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16, showing the grit required for knockout football. Now comes their toughest test. Al Hussein arrive with momentum and belief. The Jordanian side are firmly in the domestic title race—level on points with Al Faisaly but holding a game in hand—and have mirrored that consistency in Asia. Group C winners with nine points, they underlined their credentials by eliminating Esteghlal 4-2 on aggregate in the previous round. Al Ahli coach Younes Ali is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge. He has labelled Al Hussein a “strong and distinguished opponent,” highlighting their results both continentally and domestically. “I have closely followed Al Hussein and they are a strong team. We have prepared well and our aim is to reach the semi-finals,” he said. This is a one-off 90-minute battle—not a two-legged chess match. That reality sharpens the stakes. “Concentration throughout is crucial,” Ali stressed, pointing to the fine margins that will decide the tie. Set pieces, in particular, are an area of concern against a technically sharp Al Hussein side. The match represents a pivotal moment for both teams.#afc_champions_league #al_ahli_sc #al_hussein_sc #zabeel_stadium #younes_ali
