Al-Nassr, led by Ronaldo, exit the Asian Champions League following their semifinal defeat against Kawasaki Frontale.
In the heart of Saudi Arabia, it's crystal clear that Cristiano Ronaldo's quest for a major title in the kingdom's soil is still unanswered. Al-Nassr, Ronaldo's current team, suffered a 3-2 defeat against Kawasaki Frontale in the Asian Champions League semifinals on a fateful Wednesday.
This ageless wonder, Ronaldo, who joined forces with the Riyadh club back in December 2022, had his opportunities but couldn't convert them against the formidable Japanese team.
Kawasaki Frontale will now face Al-Ahli for the title on Saturday, both teams desperate to claim their first continental trophy. Kawasaki took an early lead in the 10th minute, thanks to a breathtaking volley from Tatsuya Ito. Former Liverpool stalwart Sadio Mane leveled the score for Al-Nassr before the half-hour mark.
Ronaldo almost added to the scoring shortly after with a header that met the post. It was, however, Kawasaki who found the net again, thanks to Yuto Ozeki's goal at the very brink of half-time.
Al-Nassr continued to pour forward but found themselves two goals down when Akihiro Ienaga nodded one in from close range with just 76 minutes on the clock. Ayman Yahya reduced the deficit to one for Al-Nassr in the dying minutes. Despite Ronaldo and Jhon Duran, who joined the ranks for over $100 million from English Premier League club Aston Villa in January, coming close, they failed to secure an equalizer.
Looking back to their previous encounters in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League, Ronaldo had found the net for Al-Nassr in a comfortable quarterfinals win over Yokohama. Moving forward to the current season, Al-Ahli advanced to the finals by edging out fellow Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal 3-1 in the semis.
It's unclear if either Ronaldo or Al-Nassr will participate in the upcoming final, as their performance in the Saudi Pro League and the pursuit for the elite stage in the AFC Champions League are taking precedence. Keep an eye on this captivating storyline as it unfolds.
Despite Ronaldo's attempts and the record-breaking arrival of Jhon Duran from the English Premier League club Aston Villa, Al-Nassr could not secure an equalizer against Kawasaki Frontale in the Asian Champions League. The Japanese team will face Al-Ahli in the final, with both teams eager to clinch their first continental trophy.
Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in December 2022, struggled to convert his opportunities against Kawasaki, much like his ongoing quest for a major title in Saudi Arabia's soil. As the season progresses, Al-Nassr's performance in the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League will likely decide their participation in the upcoming final.
The European leagues, such as the Premier League, may need to keep a keen eye on Ronaldo's performances, as his future with Al-Nassr remains uncertain amidst their pursuit of success in Asian football tournaments.
