Al Ain delivered a commanding 4-0 performance against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in Tuesday’s AFC Champions League Elite match, led by an impressive display from siblings Soufiane and Houssine Rahimi. The win significantly bolsters Al Ain’s push for a third continental title.
Houssine Rahimi opened the scoring in the 25th minute, finding the net in front of a packed stadium to give the home side a 1-0 advantage at the break. Despite Al Nassr’s efforts to equalize, they failed to break through Al Ain’s defense. The second half proved even more difficult for the visitors as Al Ain extended their lead.
Houssine struck again 13 minutes after the interval to double the advantage. Soufiane Rahimi added to the pressure in the 72nd minute with a precise finish, and Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis sealed the 4-0 result with a goal five minutes before the final whistle. The victory moves Al Ain to the top of their group, while Ronaldo struggled to make a significant impact.
In other AFC Champions League Elite action, Shabab Al Ahli opened their campaign on Monday with a 1-0 win over Iran’s Tractor FC at Rashid Stadium. Yuri Cesar scored the decisive goal in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a fumble by Tractor captain Shojae Khalilsadeh to strike from just outside the six-yard box.
Shabab Al Ahli’s coach, Andre Jardine, expressed mixed feelings following the win. While satisfied with the objective of securing three points, he noted that the team should have capitalized on their dominance by scoring more goals. He highlighted a loss of control toward the end of the first half as a recurring concern that requires attention.
Earlier in the Shabab Al Ahli match, Sardar Azmoun had a goal ruled offside in the seventh minute. The team continued to press, with Rikelme hitting the woodwork in the 20th minute. Tractor FC struggled to create chances, though Tomislav Strkalj managed a hesitant effort in the 40th minute that was easily handled by keeper Matheus Donelli.
The second half saw more activity as Tractor’s Mohammad Daneshgar nearly leveled the score in the 79th minute, with his header skimming the crossbar. Shortly after, a powerful 25-yard attempt from Mehdi Shiri was tipped over the bar by Donelli. For Shabab Al Ahli, Yuri Cesar tested keeper Parsa Jafari early in the half, while Saeid Ezatolahi fired wide in the 58th minute.
The current tournament format sees the top eight finishers from the 16-team eastern league phase advancing to the knockout rounds. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia this coming April and May. The report also notes that al Nassr kept on trying to equalise but they failed to penetrate the watertight defence of Al Ain. The report also notes that al Nassr were expecting a change of fortune with the change of the side. The report also notes that houssine struck again 13 minutes after the half-time to extend the lead to 2-0. The report also notes that with the time passing away quickly, Al Nassr had come up with some plan to not only stop Al Ain but also curtail the deficit. The report also notes that ronaldo failed to produce the same magic he is known for. The report also notes that seeing his brother, Soufiane also changed gears and dispatched a shot into the post to make it 3-0 in the 72nd minute. The report also notes that the pressure was increasing on Al Nassr, with only 15 minutes left.
