Joao Felix Shines as Al Nassr Dominates Pakhtakor in AFC Champions League
Although Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly the standout star of the Al Nassr squad, the team's success in the AFC Champions League Elite depends on contributions from all players. With Ronaldo absent for this away fixture, it was Joao Felix who took center stage against Pakhtakor in Uzbekistan.
Ronaldo, at 41, often skips travel for away matches during the league phase to rest, and this game was no exception. Without him, Felix stepped up impressively, driving Al Nassr to a dominant 6-2 victory and moving the team closer to qualifying for the knockout rounds.
Felix's Impact: Goals and Assists Fuel Al Nassr's Attack
From early on, Joao Felix made his mark by scoring twice, netting goals in the 17th and 32nd minutes. He also set up two goals: assisting Abdullah Al-Hamdan just before his first goal in the 15th minute, and later providing for Abdulelah Al Amri in the 53rd minute to put Al Nassr ahead 4-1. Felix left the field in the 68th minute, having done enough to secure the win and all three points for his side.
The match highlights are available on the AFC YouTube channel for those wanting a closer look at Felix's performance.
Al Nassr Climbs the AFC Champions League Elite Standings
This victory lifted Al Nassr to fourth place in the West Region standings of the AFC Champions League Elite. So far, the team has won two out of three games, bouncing back after a harsh 4-0 loss to Al Ain in their opener. Their combined scoreline against Neftchi and Pakhtakor is an impressive 7-3.
Meanwhile, their scheduled match against Al Wasl was postponed due to travel issues preventing the UAE side from arriving in Riyadh. A rescheduled date for that fixture has yet to be announced.
- Match Result: Al Nassr 6 - 2 Pakhtakor
- Joao Felix Goals: 17th minute, 32nd minute
- Assists by Joao Felix: 15th minute (Abdullah Al-Hamdan), 53rd minute (Abdulelah Al Amri)
- Al Nassr Standing: 4th in AFC Champions League Elite West Region
- Games Played: 3
- Wins: 2
- Losses: 1 (4-0 vs. Al Ain)
- Combined Score Against Neftchi and Pakhtakor: 7-3
