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Qatar News Agency reported that Al Ain secured a 4-0 victory over Al Nassr in the opening round of the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday. Houssine Rahimi scored in the 25th and 63rd minutes while Soufiane Rahimi added the third goal in the 72nd minute at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. Georgios Giakoumakis completed the scoring in the 85th minute as the hosts claimed maximum points in the league phase opener. The result lifted Al Ain to the top of their group with three points and a plus four goal difference.
A league table compiled by 365Scores placed Al Nassr at the bottom of the standings with zero points and a minus four goal difference after the defeat. Soufiane Rahimi’s goal took him to 19 career strikes in the AFC Champions League for Al Ain making him the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition the team stated on its website. The match formed part of the first round of fixtures across the West region of the tournament.
The National reported that Houssine Rahimi stood out as the key performer having netted twice before leaving the field to applause from the crowd. The newspaper noted that Cristiano Ronaldo endured a difficult night with Al Ain’s goalkeeper Khalid Eisa producing a strong save from one of the Portuguese forward’s free kicks. Al Nassr arrived with an array of established international players but failed to trouble the home defence consistently.
Gulf News described how a wayward back pass from Al Nassr’s Saad Al Nasser handed Houssine Rahimi the opening goal which he converted with a calm finish. The two Rahimi brothers combined to unsettle the Saudi side throughout the first half and beyond according to the publication. Al Nassr’s defensive shortcomings became evident as the visitors could not register a single goal for the first time this season.
ESPN data showed Al Ain recorded seven shots on target compared to Al Nassr’s three despite trailing in possession at 43 percent to 57 percent. The home side created and took their opportunities more effectively than their opponents in the Group stage encounter. Ronaldo finished without a goal or assist after three attempts during the match.
Khel Now indicated that the loss counted as Al Nassr’s heaviest of the campaign to date following mixed results in the Saudi Pro League. The Saudi club had won several domestic fixtures but could not replicate that level against Al Ain. Al Ain demonstrated their potential as contenders in the competition through their organised approach and clinical finishing.
