⚽️ In a thrilling kickoff to the new AFC Champions League Elite, Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, playing without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo due to a viral infection, drew 1-1 against Iraq's Al Shorta on Monday.
After a lackluster performance in a 1-1 draw against Al Ahli last Friday, Al Nassr was eager to make a strong impression in the league's inaugural match. Captain Sultan Al-Ghannam lit up the game with a clinical finish in the 14th minute, putting Al Nassr ahead. 😎
But the lead was short-lived! Just ten minutes later, Mohammed Dawoud capitalized on a defensive mishap to level the score for Al Shorta. 😮 What a turn of events!
The second half brought more challenges for Al Nassr as Croatian international Marcelo Brozovic left the field due to injury. Ouch! 🤕
Al Nassr will be looking to bounce back when they host Qatar's Al Rayyan on October 1st. Mark your calendars! 📅
The revamped AFC Champions League Elite is turning heads with its new format. The competition has been reduced from 40 to 24 teams, adopting a Swiss League format where teams face off in a more dynamic and engaging way. The top eight teams from the east and west Asia leagues will advance to the knockout rounds in March 2025. Exciting times ahead! 🚀
The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are set to take place in Saudi Arabia in April and May, promising a showdown of the best in Asian football. 🏆
Reference(s):
Ronaldo-less Nassr draw against Shorta in new AFC Champions Elite
cgtn.com
