Al Nassr complete RSL trio in ACL Elite semi-finals

Senegalese forward Sadio Mane remained focused on the ultimate prize after his Al Nassr side rounded up the Roshn Saudi League trio in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals in style, putting four goals past Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos in the third quarter-final clash.

The former Liverpool winger scored the second goal in a 4-1 thumping at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City on Saturday night as he moved within two matches of becoming the first player to win both the AFC Champions League and the UEFA Champions League.

It is an honour that could also be shared by captain Cristiano Ronaldo and defender Aymeric Laporte, should Al Nassr go all the way in Jeddah.

"It was a very important win, but we have to step up for the next round," said Mane in a message to the Al Nassr fans after the final whiste. "Let's keep pushing together. We know the target, but we have to take it step by step and win it together."

After a slow start to the game, the RSL side finally took the lead in the 27th minute thanks to Jhon Duran, who showed true striker’s instincts to follow up on a rebound after Australian international defender Thomas Deng watched his attempted clearance cannon his own post instead.

The ball fell for Duran, who was left with the easiest of finishes for his third continental goal since making the winter move from the English Premier League.

The goal prompted Yokohama F. Marinos to push forward, leaving spaces behind that were almost instantly exploited by Stefano Pioli’s men, with Otavio driving the ball forward past the halfway line and feeding Mane.

The Senegalese forward made now mistake, firing into the near corner with his left foot to double Al Nassr’s advantage.

Seven minutes before the interval, Al Nassr added their third of the night after Marcelo Brozovic’s deflected strike caused problems for Park Il-gyu. The Japanese goalkeeper could only push the ball as far as Cristiano Ronaldo, whose improvised finish confirmed his career goal number 934.

The volley lifted Ronaldo, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, to eight goals for the continental campaign - he is also the current top scorer in the 2024-25 RSL - and one behind a four-way tie at the top that includes Al Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari and Al Ahli's Riyad Mahrez.

Al Nassr's fourth of the night arrived four minutes into he second half, with midfielder Ali Al Hassan playing a crucial role.

First, he dispossessed youngster Riku Yamane in the middle of the pitch, before picking up Otavio’s through pass and firing an effort that was parried by Park, before Duran directed the loose ball into the net.

Not long after, a fine passing move for Yokohama F. Marinos saw them pull a goal back with substitute Kota Watanabe finding the corner. Watanabe’s night ended on a negative note, though, when he brought down Ayman Yahya to earn a second yellow card and leave his side chasing the result with 10 men.

Having booked their spot in the last four, Al Nassr will keep a keen eye on Sunday’s encounter between Qatar’s Al Sadd and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale to find out their Wednesday opponents.

The weekend’s results mark the first time in the competition’s history three teams from the same nation have qualified to the semi-finals, with Saudi Arabia guaranteed at least one representative in May 3rd final at Alinma Stadium.