Cristiano Ronaldo lauded his team for their fightback against Shabab Al Ahli as Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr booked their place in the group stage draw for the Asian Champions League.
Anderson Talisca scored twice in a 4-2 win over the UAE side in a tense game in Riyadh on Tuesday night. Talisca gave Al Nassr the lead after 11 minutes when he headed in Marcelo Brozovic's corner, but goals in the 18th and 46th minutes from Shabab Al Ahli star Yahya Al Ghassani put the 2015 runners-up ahead and left the big-spending Saudis on the brink of elimination.
However, Sultan Al Ghannam's 88th-minute header levelled the scores and Talisca put in his second in the fifth minute of injury time to put Al Nassr back in front.
Brozovic then sealed the win two minutes later as Al Nassr secured qualification. The win means Al Nassr joins fellow big-spending Saudi Arabian clubs Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Fahya in the group stage.