Jhon Duran, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane were on target as Al-Nassr thrashed Yokohama F Marinos 4-1 to reach the ACL last-four stage.
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Duran starred for Al-Nassr with a braceRonaldo and Mane also on targetAl-Nassr beat Yokohama F Marinos 4-1 to reach the semisFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE
Al-Nassr meant business right from the kick-off as they looked determined to pick up an early goal. The Saudi Pro League club finally broke the deadlock just minutes before the half-hour mark as Jhon Duran took advantage of their opponents' sloppy defending. Sadio Mane initiated the move with a low cross from the left side, which Thomas Deng intercepted, but the Yokohama defender's poor clearance hit the post and went straight in Duran's direction. The former Aston Villa man made no mistake in pushing the ball into the net from the rebound.
In the 31st minute, Mane took matters into his own hands and doubled his side's lead. A brilliantly manoeuvred team move saw Cristiano Ronaldo receive the ball near the centre circle and immediately push it towards Otavio. The midfielder then made a run down the middle before finding Mane on his left and the ex-Liverpool star comfortably found the back of the net.
Seven minutes later, Ronaldo increased his team's tally with a simple strike. Marcelo Brozovic attempted a shot from distance, which was thwarted by Park Il-gyu. The rebound ball fell to Ronaldo's feet and he comfortably scored the team's third goal.
Just four minutes after the break, Duran sealed the game with his second goal, and once again it was a simple tap-in from a rebound. The Yokohama goalkeeper made a valiant effort to parry the ball away from Ali Alhassan's shot, but the lurking 21-year-old forward pushed the ball into the net. The hosts then pulled one back in the 53rd minute as Kota Watanabe scored an eye-catching goal. He hit a low shot from distance, which flew past Bento.
Al-Nassr cruise into the ACL last-four stage, where they will now face the winner of the quarter-final match between Kawasaki Frontale and Qatari giants Al Sadd.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE MVP
On a night when all three Al-Nassr forwards got their names on the screenshot, it was 21-year-old Colombian forward Duran who stole the limelight. The ex-Villa man functioned as a perfect No.9 and scored twice to help his team reach the ACL semi-final.
J.LEAGUETHE BIG LOSER
Kenya-born Australian defender Deng had a night to forget as his disastrous blunder led to Al-Nassr's opening which handed the Saudi club the much-needed confidence in the match. His clueless clearance of Mane's cross gifted Duran the opportunity to break the deadlock.
Getty ImagesWHAT COMES NEXT?
Stefano Pioli's side will be back in action in the Saudi Pro League on May 7 as they take on league leaders Al-Ittihad at home in a crucial encounter.