September 30, (THEWILL) – Al Nassr claimed their first win in the Asian Champions League Elite, defeating Al Rayyan 2-1 in Riyadh. The Saudi Arabian club bounced back from their opening draw against Iraq’s Al-Shorta with a strong performance.
Sadio Mane broke the deadlock for Al Nassr in the added time is the first half. The Senegalese forward headed home Sultan Al-Ghannam’s lofted ball, giving goalkeeper Paulo Victor little chance. Cristiano Ronaldo then doubled the lead with 14 minutes remaining, sweeping a left-foot shot into the top corner.
The victory marks Al Nassr’s fourth consecutive win in all competitions since Stefano Pioli took over as head coach. Pioli, formerly of AC Milan, has made an immediate impact on the team’s form. Roger Guedes scored a late consolation goal for Al Rayyan, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
Mane expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating: “We deserved to win. We started well, we controlled the game and created many chances.” He also praised the team’s progress under Pioli, highlighting their perfect record since the Italian’s arrival.
