Ronaldo’s silverware wait continues as Gamba Osaka stun Al Nassr in ACL2 final
Cristiano Ronaldo endured another setback in Saudi Arabia as his club Al Nassr FC were beaten 1-0 by Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final on May 16, extending the Portuguese star’s wait for a trophy since his 2023 move to the Kingdom.
At the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Al Nassr entered the final as strong favorites, with 26,000 fans expecting them to become the first Saudi side to lift the second-tier continental title. However, the Japanese visitors delivered a disciplined and clinical performance to claim a famous victory.
Gamba Osaka, champions of Asia in 2008, struck against the run of play in the 30th minute when Issam Jebali threaded a pass to Deniz Hummet, who calmly finished into the bottom corner, a goal that ultimately proved decisive.
Despite sustained pressure from Al Nassr, who registered 20 shots compared to Gamba’s three, the Saudi side could not break through. Key chances fell to Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Sadio Mané, but 18-year-old goalkeeper Rui Araki produced a standout performance, including a crucial early save to keep his side level.
Al Nassr dominated possession in the second half but lacked cutting edge in front of goal, while Gamba remained compact and resilient until the final whistle. Head coach Jens Wissing praised his team’s discipline, saying they “never stopped believing” and executed their game plan under pressure.
Jebali, who also featured prominently in buildup play, was later named tournament MVP after a standout campaign.
The defeat marks another painful near-miss for Al Nassr and Ronaldo, who had been aiming for a first piece of silverware since joining the club in 2023.
