AFC Media Team

MARGAO: Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr Club staved off a fightback from FC Goa to walk away with a 2-1 win from their AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 Group D tie at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

The victory kept Al Nassr perfect at the top of the standings, while Goa suffered a third consecutive defeat and remained at the bottom behind Tajikistan's FC Istiklol and Iraq's Al Zawraa SC.

Cristiano Ronaldo was not in the matchday squad while Sadio Mané and João Félix started on the bench, but that didn't stop Al Nassr from seizing immediate control of the tie.

The Saudi Pro League side saw early attempts from Angelo, Wesley, and Aiman Yahya denied, but Goa could do nothing about Al Nassr's opener in the 10th minute.

An exchange of passes following a throw in saw Angelo Damaceno with a clear sight on goal, with the Brazilian's sizzling shot from just outside curling past the despairing Hrithik Tiwari.

The Indian side were struggling to gain possession and Al Nassr made their dominance count again in the 27th minute from a fine team passing move which saw the ball land at Haroune Camara's feet.

The Goa defenders failed to clear, and the forward displayed coolness to slot home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Forced to adopt a more aggressive approach, Goa began to venture forward and reduced the deficit with their first shot on target in the 41st minute.

Having robbed the ball just inside the Al Nassr half, Dejan Dražić released Brison Fernandes, who had come on in the 24th minute following an injury to Javi Siverio, with the midfielder side-footing the ball into the net to become the first Indian to score in the AFC Champions League Two.

Goa, however, failed to build on the momentum after the break, while Al Nassr, while seeing most of the ball, couldn't find the third goal they were seeking.

As the visiting side became increasingly frustrated, head coach Jorge Jesus sent on Mané and Félix but it was Goa who should have drawn level just moments later.

A clever pass from Fernandes released Boris Singh Thangjam, who sent his effort straight at Al Nassr custodian Bento Krepski in the 67th minute. However, the linesman had raised his flag for offside.

That was to be Goa's best chance at salvaging something from the match with the Indian side reduced to 10 men in stoppage time following a red card for David Timor.

The Gaurs will face Al Nassr again on November 5 in the return fixture in Riyadh.