Al-Nassr and Ronaldo shocked by Osaka and lose Asian final

RIYADH: Al-Nassr lost the final of the AFC Champion League Two in Riyadh on Saturday, a 1-0 defeat against Gamba Osaka of Japan which means that a second trophy has slipped through their fingers in the space of five days. A season that had promised so much could actually end in nothing but disappointment. 

The Saudi Pro League leaders would have sealed the domestic championship had they not conceded a 98th minute equaliser against Al-Hilal on Tuesday. Despite making almost all of the running in the final of Asia’s second tier club tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo and his men could not find a way past the jubilant Japanese who took the lead in the first half and then defended well with goalkeeper Rui Araki an impressive performer. 

Al-Nassr took the field knowing that Al-Hilal were about to win their Saudi Pro League game against NEOM SC meaning that the title race is going to go down to the final round. Nassr, two points clear at the top, have to beat Damac on Thursday to be sure.

Despite — or because of — that, the Saudi Arabians started brightly in front of their fans and their brightly coloured tifo. After just eight minutes Araki had to get down quickly to save a low shot from Abdulrahmeen Ghareeb who had turned inside on the edge of the area.

Ten minutes and the Gamba goalkeeper was in action once again, saving a powerful header from Inigo Martinez as Al-Nassr started to take control.

Then, almost from nowhere, the visitors who had offered little going forward, took the lead on the half hour. A simple pass from Issam Jebali from outside the area and a well-timed run from Deniz Hummet gave the Turkish forward a sight of goal and he turned to fire first time into the corner. There was a lengthy VAR check for