Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League win at Al Gharafa on Monday, easing the captain’s disgruntlement after he appeared to rant at officials at half-time.
The 39-year-old had been denied the chance to take his 20th penalty for Al Nassr following a lengthy review during the first half at the Al Bayt Stadium, where Sadio Mane was initially adjudged to have been brought down inside the box by defender Matias Nani.
Australian referee Shaun Evans consulted the pitchside monitor before deciding that the challenge on the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich striker would not result in a spot kick.
The Qatari hosts remained level at the break despite Al-Nassr dominating possession and going close several times, with Ronaldo seeming to approach the officials and shout and gesture in frustration as he made his way towards the dressing room.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner looked to have been offering sarcastic applause towards Evans when he turned down a penalty appeal during first-half added time.
Champions League Elite Night! 🙌#AlNassrAlGharafah pic.twitter.com/IZLpSD788E
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 25, 2024
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Al Gharafa vs Al Nassr goals
Ronaldo’s anguish was forgotten within a minute of the restart in Qatar, the Portugal skipper finding himself unmarked to head in a Sultan Al-Ghannam cross at one of the stadiums built for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
Al-Nasssr would have been in front by then but for a more wasteful earlier header by Ronaldo and an athletic intervention by defender Wajdi Kechrida to block his close-range shot.
Al-Gharafa had chances of their own through Spain striker Joselu and Kechrida, whose shot was saved by visiting goalkeeper Bento.
But their hopes were severely dented when 19-year-old Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel’s electric run and cool finish doubled Al-Nassr’s lead in the 58th minute, putting them on course for their fourth win and 13 points from their first five games in Group B.
Ronaldo scored his stylish second six minutes later, cutting to his right inside the penalty area on the left and curling a precise right-footed strike into the far corner of the net.
⚽️ || GOOOOOAAAAL! 🤩
Ronaldo scores the first goal 46’ for @AlNassrFC #AlNassr 1:0 #AlGharafah pic.twitter.com/NAFheX4Abd— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 25, 2024
Joselu struck 15 minutes from time after Bento’s save fell to him, but Seydou Sano was dismissed for Al-Gharafa with six minutes remaining, receiving a second booking for a foul on Mane.
Evans has already overseen an Al-Nassr match in the competition this season, Ronaldo and Mane scoring in a 2-1 home win over Al-Rayyan on September 30.
Cristiano Ronaldo penalties
Ronaldo has scored 18 of his 19 penalties for Al-Nassr, although the exception was a crucial one in the King Cup on October 29.
With his team 1-0 behind at home to Al-Taawoun, Ronaldo had the chance to equalise from the spot during second-half added time – only to lash the effort over the crossbar.
Brazilian forward Talisca took their previous penalty in Ronaldo’s absence, securing a 3-3 league draw by converting in the 95th minute at Al Kholood on October 25.
