Al Nassr leave it late against Shabab Al Ahli to snatch Asian Champions League spot

Brazilian Anderson Talisca scored twice with Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic rounding off the win

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr qualified for the Asian Champions League group stage after they secured an injury-time victory against Dubai’s Shabab Al Ahli in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The Saudi Pro League side came from behind to win 4-2 in the play-off at Mrsool Park, with Brazilian Anderson Talisca scoring twice and Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic rounding off the win.

Nassr had been two minutes from leaving the tournament.

The result means Nassr, runners-up domestically last season, move into the group phase, which begins next month.

Ronaldo, a five-time Uefa Champions League winner, was making his debut in Asian football’s top club competition after signing for the Riyadh club last December.

Nassr opened the scoring on 11 minutes, when Talisca headed home a Brozovic corner.

But Yahya Al Ghassani levelled for UAE champions Shabab Al Ahli seven minutes later, the winger slotting the ball into the Nassr net after the Dubai side countered.

Ronaldo, 38, left the pitch at half-time clearly frustrated and could been seen arguing with the referee. The Portuguese star, the Nassr captain, believed he should have had two penalties in the first half.

Then, one minute after half-time, Al Ghassani raced clear of the Nassr defence to flick the ball over Nawaf Al Aqidi and put Shabab Al Ahli in front.