Al-Nassr get it done without CR7 again! Saudi Arabian giants take 1-0 lead over Arkadag in AFC Champions League 2 round of 16 first leg with Cristiano Ronaldo absent from squad ahead of comeback
Al-Nassr beat Turkmenistan club Arkadag 1-0 in the first leg of their AFC Champions League 2 Round of 16 tie, doing so without Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal superstar is set to return to action this weekend after missing their last three fixtures, but without him, they managed to earn an advantage they will take back to Saudi Arabia, thanks to Abdullah Al-Hamdan's strike.It took just 19 minutes for the Saudi visitors to take the lead. A neat combination in the middle of the field ended with Angelo sending Abdullah Al Hamdan in on goal with a neat through ball for a deft finish.Angelo came close to making it 2-0 on the half-hour mark when he ran onto a neat pass in the box but his effort went just wide of the goal.Al Hamdan should have doubled the lead 10 minutes into the second half with a shot from close range, but it was straight at goalkeeper Rasul Caryyev, who was able to divert it out for a corner.Nassr now take a 1-0 advantage back to Saudi Arabia, after a job well done, and one accomplished without Ronaldo's presence. He will be back in the team this weekend, though... Al Hamdan has to take the plaudits for an ice-cold finish that gives Nassr a real chance that they can reach the last eight. A tricky trip to Turkmenistan has been taken in, and won, thanks to the 26-year-old's calmness in front of goal. Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Al-Nassr beat Turkmenistan club Arkadag 1-0 in the first leg of their AFC Champions League 2 Round of 16 tie, doing so without Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal superstar is set to return to action this weekend after missing their last three fixtures, but without him, they managed to earn an advantage they will take back to Saudi Arabia, thanks to Abdullah Al-Hamdan's strike.It took just 19 minutes for the Saudi visitors to take the lead. A neat combination in the middle of the field ended with Angelo sending Abdullah Al Hamdan in on goal with a neat through ball for a deft finish.Angelo came close to making it 2-0 on the half-hour mark when he ran onto a neat pass in the box but his effort went just wide of the goal.Al Hamdan should have doubled the lead 10 minutes into the second half with a shot from close range, but it was straight at goalkeeper Rasul Caryyev, who was able to divert it out for a corner.Nassr now take a 1-0 advantage back to Saudi Arabia, after a job well done, and one accomplished without Ronaldo's presence. He will be back in the team this weekend, though... Al Hamdan has to take the plaudits for an ice-cold finish that gives Nassr a real chance that they can reach the last eight. A tricky trip to Turkmenistan has been taken in, and won, thanks to the 26-year-old's calmness in front of goal. Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
