Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr have booked their place in the Asian Champions League knockout stages, even despite the megastar overruling the referee incredible piece of sportsmanship.
The Saudi Arabian side, who had won all four Group E matches going into their home encounter against Iran’s Persepolis in Riyadh, needed only a point at Al Awwal Park to advance to the last 16.
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Nassr got just that in a scoreless draw, although they played the majority of the match with 10 men. Their celebrations were also dampened somewhat by Ronaldo’s substitution with 13 minutes remaining following an earlier collision with Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
The contest sparked into life on four minutes, when Nassr had a claim for a penalty denied after Ronaldo looked to have been tripped in the visitors’ area. However, the Portugal forward admitted to the referee that it was not foul, with the official upholding the decision after consulting VAR.
The incident was widely shared on social media, with many praising the Portugal legend for the show of sportsmanship.
Things worsened for the hosts not long after when Ali Lajami was shown a straight red card on 17 minutes for a raking his studs down Milad Sarlak’s shin.
Persepolis, two-time runners-up, did have a goal disallowed at the start of the second half, while Ronaldo later turned sharply inside the Persepolis penalty area but fired his low shot wide.
The Nassr captain, 38, had appeared to injure his neck at the beginning of the second half after Beiranvand landed on him when coming to claim a high ball.
Ronaldo was withdrawn on 77 minutes seemingly experiencing some discomfort. Nassr face arch-rivals Al Hilal on Friday in a top-of-the-table clash in the Saudi Pro League.