Ronaldo scores and leads Al-Nassr into AFC Champions Elite semifinals
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: Cristiano Ronaldo led Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr to a 4-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan in the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite on Saturday. The 40-year-old scored his eighth goal of the tournament during a dominant first half performance in Jeddah, which is hosting all of the games in the tournament from the quarterfinal stage to the final on May 3. In Wednesday’s semifinal, Al-Nassr will take on Al-Sadd of Qatar or Kawasaki Frontale of Japan, who meet on Sunday. Jhon Duran, signed for over $100 million from Aston Villa in January, opened the scoring from close range. Four minutes later, Sadio Mane doubled Al-Nassr’s lead, the former Liverpool forward firing home a fierce low shot from the left of the area. There was still time before the break for Ronaldo to give Al-Nassr, looking for a first ever continental title, one foot in the last four.