November 8, 2023
Al Nassr’s Anderson Talisca Emerges as the Hero in Cristiano Ronaldo’s Absence
In a thrilling AFC Champions League showdown, Al Nassr, representing the Saudi Pro League, made a remarkable comeback after Philippe Coutinho’s early goal for Al Duhail at the Khalifa International Stadium. This victory ensured Al Nassr maintained their flawless record in this year’s competition, securing all three points. The star of the night was Brazilian striker Anderson Talisca, who stepped up in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo to seal a memorable 3-2 win against Al Duhail in Qatar.
The match opened with a flourish as Philippe Coutinho, the former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder, found the net for the first time in the Asian Champions League. Coutinho capitalized on a low cross from Michael Olunga in the 8th minute to give Al Duhail the early lead. However, the Nassr bench vehemently protested, claiming that Olunga had fouled defender Mohammed Al Fatil in the build-up.
Despite this setback, Al Nassr orchestrated a remarkable turnaround in the latter part of the first half, transforming the course of the game. Talisca was at the heart of this resurgence, delivering a breathtaking performance.
In the 35th minute, Talisca engaged in a brilliant one-two with Abdulrahman Ghareeb at the edge of the Duhail area, where he unleashed a remarkable right-footed shot that nestled low into the bottom corner. The stadium erupted in celebration as Al Nassr drew level.
The Brazilian sensation wasn’t done yet. Just a few minutes later, Talisca collected a short pass from the highly skilled Sadio Mane and, from a nearly identical position as his previous strike, launched a powerful left-footed drive that left goalkeeper Salah Zakaria rooted to the spot. Al Nassr took the lead, stunning the home crowd.
Talisca was on fire, and his hat-trick came in the 65th minute. He brilliantly finished off a fluid attacking move following another precise one-two with Ghareeb. The scoreline now read 3-1 in favor of Al Nassr, and Talisca’s tally reached an impressive six goals in his last three Champions League matches.
Al Duhail mounted a late charge and managed to pull a goal back in the 80th minute through Coutinho’s well-converted penalty, awarded after Marcelo Brozovic’s handball. However, their efforts fell short as they saw substitute Khaled Mohammed receive a red card in stoppage time.
In the same Group E, two-time runner-up Persepolis bolstered their bid for a spot in the last 16 with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Istiklol in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. The Iranians took an early lead but were pegged back by the spirited hosts 16 minutes from time.
This AFC Champions League clash showcased extraordinary skills, intense drama, and a spectacular hat-trick by Talisca that will be etched in football history. The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo was no hindrance as Al Nassr continues to shine in this year’s competition, accumulating 12 points from four matches to top Group E.
