Ronaldo scores to send Al-Nassr into the AFC Champions League Elite quarters

Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo poses with an award, during the Globe Soccer Awards 2025, in Dubai, UAE, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr beat Iran’s Esteghlal 3-0 to progress to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.

Ronaldo, who has yet to win a trophy for Al-Nassr since signing for the Riyadh club in December 2022, missed the 0-0 draw in the first leg of the round of 16 tie in Tehran last week.

After 26 minutes in the return match, the 40-year-old scored his seventh goal of the tournament, converting a penalty after Sadio Mane was fouled in the area.

Earlier, Jhon Duran opened the scoring with a lob from the corner of the area.

Esteghlal was reduced to 10 men just before the break when Mehran Ahmadi was issued a second yellow card.

Al-Nassr, seeking a first Asian championship, added a third late in the game after Duran fired home a low shot for his second.

Elsewhere, two-time champion Al-Sadd of Qatar advanced with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates.

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The Associated Press