RIYADH — In an exhilarating AFC Champions League 2023/24 quarter-final clash that went the distance, Al Nassr's resilient comeback fell short in a penalty shootout, bringing an end to their journey in the tournament.
Despite their efforts, the Riyadh-based club was narrowly defeated by Al Ain, who advanced to the semi-finals after a 3-1 victory in the penalties. This followed a dramatic 4-4 aggregate scoreline, spanning regular time in Al Ain and an additional 120 minutes in Riyadh.
In the first leg, Al Ain had secured a narrow advantage thanks to the prowess of Soufiane Rahimi. The forward continued his impressive form by scoring two goals in the return leg's first half.
Despite the challenging situation, Al Nassr showcased resilience after halftime, notably with a crucial penalty conversion from Cristiano Ronaldo, forcing the match into a high-stakes shootout.
The match was intense from the start, with Al Nassr aggressively seeking to reverse their fortunes, and Al Ain determined to extend their lead. Rahimi broke the deadlock for Al Ain, and although Cristiano Ronaldo came close to leveling the scores, he was denied by Khaled Eisa's exceptional goalkeeping.
Rahimi scored his second goal just before halftime, increasing Al Ain's lead. However, Abdulrahman Ghareeb's goal in added time injected hope into Al Nassr's aspirations. The momentum continued into the second half, where Otavio's strike pulled Al Nassr level on the night, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Despite creating numerous opportunities, including a notable miss by Ronaldo, Al Nassr equalized the aggregate score through Alex Telles' expertly taken free-kick, leading to extra time. However, a red card for Ayman Yahya left Al Nassr with ten men, a disadvantage that Al Ain exploited to retake the lead through Sultan Al Shamsi.
Drama peaked when Ronaldo was fouled in the box, confidently converting the ensuing penalty to send the match to a shootout. However, the shootout favored Al Ain, with Eisa's save and subsequent misses from Al Nassr sealing their fate.
While this loss marks a bitter end to Al Nassr's campaign, their spirit and determination in the face of adversity are commendable, laying the groundwork for future successes. As Al Ain progresses, Al Nassr's focus will shift to domestic competitions, and the lessons learned from this thrilling encounter will undoubtedly shape their path forward.
