Al-Nassr Run Riot In Tashkent, Beat Pakhtakor 6-2 In AFC Champions League Elite

Al-Nassr Get The Better of Pakhtakor

Al-Nassr won 6–2 in Tashkent without Cristiano Ronaldo, who was left at home because of security concerns, and with a rotated side chosen by Ange Postecoglou. The visitors were 3–1 up at half-time and led 4–1 shortly after the break. They kept scoring while Pakhtakor fought back. It was Al-Nassr’s first win of the campaign away from home and a heavy home defeat for a Pakhtakor side that had lost only one of its previous 13 home matches.

How It Was Won

• 15′: Abdullah Al-Hamdan opened the scoring.
• 17′: João Félix doubled the lead with a shot from the centre of the box into the top of the goal.
• 32′: João Félix made it 3–0.
• 36′: Flamarion pulled one back for Pakhtakor, 3–1.
• Second half: Abdulelah Al-Amri made it 4–1; VAR also ruled out a Pakhtakor goal during the match, but A. Ghareeb made it 5-1 in the 62′.
• 75′: Dostonbek Khamdamov made it 5–2, but Al-Nassr restored their four-goal margin immediately through Angelo Gabriel to make it 6–2.

The Standouts

João Félix led the way with two goals in the first half-hour, taking advantage of the space Pakhtakor left between midfield and defence. Sadio Mané and Al-Hamdan completed a front three that Pakhtakor never settled against. For Pakhtakor, Khamdamov, who came on at the hour, kept up his run as their main goal threat, with a goal that took his tournament tally to four.

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The Absence of Ronaldo

Postecoglou rested Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick in the 5–3 league win over Al Kholood last week and sits on 985 career goals. ESPN reported the decision reflected concern over the security situation in Saudi Arabia, which has already delayed one Al-Nassr home game and led to another being postponed. The club came into the match after a 4–0 defeat at Al Ain on the opening matchday, followed by a 3–1 win over Neftchi Fergana.

Pakhtakor had two points from three games, with draws against Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah and a 1–0 defeat to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, and their first win in the competition is still to come.

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Takeaways For Both Sides

• Al-Nassr’s depth is real. Postecoglou changed the side, and the output did not drop.
• The defence is still open. Two goals conceded against a winless side suggest the back line is less secure when the team is rotated.
• Pakhtakor lost it early. They conceded three goals in the first 32 minutes and chased the game from there.

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