Saudi Stars Strike Back: Al Nassr Win 2-0 Over Al Zawraa in ACL 2 Thriller
1 octobre 2025
Saudi Stars Strike in Baghdad: Al Nassr Edges Past Al Zawraa 2-0
Al Nassr secured a valuable 2-0 win against Al Zawraa on Wednesday night in the AFC Champions League 2 group stage, keeping their continental campaign on track.
In Group D the Saudi powerhouse are joined by Istiklol Dushanbe, Goa FC, and Al Zawraa as they chase a knockout berth and bragging rights across Asia.
The scoring opened in the 52nd minute when Abdullah Alkhubri fired from outside the box, and Joao Felix sealed the deal with a clever finish in the 81st minute after a fast break.
Cristiano Ronaldo did not feature in the starting XI, with coach Jorge Jesus choosing to rest the Portuguese star for this away test.
With six points, Al Nassr sit atop Group D following their earlier 5-0 win over Istiklol Dushanbe, while Al Zawraa remain on three points after beating Goa FC in the opening round. The group is already heating up as the four teams fight for a place in the next phase.
Historically, Al Nassr have boasted a strong record against Iraqi clubs in Asian competition, and this match added another chapter: five ACL meetings against Al Zawraa and Al Shorta, with no losses for the Saudi side.
Team news showed Bento Matheus in goal, a back four of Nawaf Boshl, Abdulillah Al-Omari, Inigo Martinez and Sultan Al-Ghannam, and a midfield trio of Marcelo Brozovic, Angelo Gabriel and Joao Felix, with Ayman Yahya, Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman leading the attack.
The opening period was evenly contested, but the visitors gradually asserted control after the break, pressing to kill the tie early and stay on track in the group.
Al Zawraa pressed back in the second half, but chances were scarce and Al Nassr’s defense, marshalled by Al-Omari and Martinez, held firm as the clock ticked toward the final whistle.
In the 52nd minute, Alkhubri’s powerful strike broke the deadlock, and in the 81st, Felix curled home a superb second to seal the win and leave the Iraqi side chasing the game until the end.
Historically, Al Nassr’s dominance against Iraqi clubs in Asia continues: their five ACL encounters with Iraqi sides have produced three wins and two draws, with no defeats in the series.
Tonight’s result keeps Group D tight: the group also features Goa FC and Istiklol Dushanbe, meaning every point matters as the pair jostles for a spot in the knockout rounds.
Al Nassr’s strong performance in an away fixture also reinforces the club’s growing confidence in their Continental campaign and provides a timely boost for their domestic push.
And for the fans: if drama is your cup of tea, this match served a strong espresso—though the main takeaway is that the goals came late, so the sofa remained undefeated for a while longer.
Punchlines: They asked for a sniper joke? Here are two: 1) Al Nassr didn’t just shoot, they filed a restraining order against droughts in the opposition box. 2) Ronaldo watched from the bench and learned that even legends deserve a rest day—the bench is starting to build a small nation of its own.
