In a dazzling display of football, Al Nassr secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos in the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinal on April 27, 2025, at the Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The win sees Al Nassr advance to the semifinals, joining fellow Saudi teams Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal in the last four of the prestigious tournament.
The match began with Al Nassr establishing dominance early on, as Jhon Duran opened the scoring in the 27th minute. The Colombian forward capitalized on a defensive blunder by Yokohama's Thomas Deng, who misplayed a clearance that ricocheted off the post, leaving Duran with an easy tap-in. This goal set the tone for a first half where Al Nassr's attacking prowess was on full display.
Just four minutes later, Sadio Mane doubled the lead for Al Nassr. Following a swift counterattack, Mane received a well-placed assist from Otavio, smashing the ball past Yokohama goalkeeper Park Il-Gyu at the near post. The Senegalese forward's strike was a testament to the seamless teamwork exhibited by Al Nassr.
As the first half approached its conclusion, Cristiano Ronaldo added to the tally in the 38th minute. A shot from Marcelo Brozovic was partially blocked, but the ball fell kindly for Ronaldo, who volleyed it home, extending the lead to 3-0 before halftime. Al Nassr went into the break with a commanding advantage, leaving Yokohama needing a miracle to turn the tide.
The second half saw Al Nassr continue their offensive onslaught, with Duran netting his second goal just four minutes after the restart. Following a shot from Ali Al-Hassan that was saved, Duran was quick to react to the rebound, slotting it into the empty net to make it 4-0. It seemed the rout was on, and Al Nassr was firmly in control.
However, Yokohama found a glimmer of hope in the 53rd minute when Kota Watanabe scored their first goal of the evening, assisted by Anderson Lopes. The Japanese side's goal came from an intricate play that briefly reignited their chances.
Despite the setback, Al Nassr maintained their composure and continued to press forward. Park Il-Gyu, the Yokohama goalkeeper, was kept busy, making several remarkable saves throughout the match. In the 81st minute, he denied Otavio with a close-range stop, and just two minutes later, he thwarted another attempt from substitute Wesley.
The match took a turn for the worse for Yokohama when Watanabe received a second yellow card in the 73rd minute for a foul on Ayman Yahya, reducing his team to ten men. This dismissal effectively ended any hopes of a comeback for the Japanese side.
As the match drew to a close, Al Nassr's players showcased their experience, controlling the game and preventing Yokohama from mounting any serious threats. The referee eventually blew the final whistle, confirming Al Nassr's emphatic 4-1 victory.
Post-match, Mane expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "I think tonight we played well from the start of the game. We created many chances and we scored four goals, I think we deserved to win and I'm really happy. We have our target. We're going to take it game-by-game and we now have another important game in the next round." His sentiments echoed the team's confidence as they look forward to the semifinals.
With this victory, Al Nassr not only advances in the AFC Champions League but also continues to build momentum, showcasing their attacking capabilities with Duran, Mane, and Ronaldo all finding the back of the net. The team will now await the outcome of the quarterfinal match between Kawasaki Frontale and Al-Sadd to determine their opponent in the semifinals.
The semifinals are set to take place on April 30, 2025, with Al Nassr eager to continue their quest for continental glory. The final of the tournament is scheduled for May 3, 2025, and with the team’s current form, they will be a formidable contender.
