AFC Champions League Two 2025-26: Spirited FC Goa lose 2-1 to Ronaldo-less Al Nassr at home
Despite travelling to India without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and starting the match with star names like Sadio Mane and Joao Felix on the bench, Al Nassr took little time exerting their authority on the game.
Al Nassr dominated possession from the get-go and virtually restricted the hosts to defending in numbers in their own half.
The breakthrough arrived inside the first 10 minutes with Angelo Gabriel burying a long-range effort past FC Goa’s young goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari. The Brazilian forward was second-time lucky from range after his effort in the second minute had flown just wide.
Midway through the half, the Saudi club’s relentless pressure bore fruit yet again. Haroune Camara received a cross from Aiman Yahya in a crowded box and still managed to slot it into the goal to make it 2-0.
It was only in the final few minutes before half-time that Goa showed more attacking intent. A rare spell of build-up through midfield produced their best chance of the period and they took it.
Brison Fernandes, who was a forced substitute in the first half after an injury to Javier Silverio, pulled back a goal for FC Goa minutes before half-time after he latched onto a Borja Fernandez through ball.
The winger beat his marker and slotted past Al Nassr’s Brazilian goalkeeper Bento, much to the surprise of the home crowd.
At half-time, Al Nassr led 2-1 – a scoreline which hardly reflected their dominance on the field and stats boards.
The story was much the same after the restart, with Al Nassr bossing possession, yet lacking the final finesse to translate it on the scorecard.
In an effort to force the issue, Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus brought on both Mane and Felix in the 65th minute.
Seconds after the two star players came on, though, it was Goa who created the best chance of the half.
Boris Singh had the Al Nassr defence, who thought the FC Goa wing-back was offside, stranded with a late run and only had the opposition goalkeeper to beat. Bento, however, spread himself big to make the save.
As the minutes ticked down and the score stayed put at 2-1, the Gaurs began showing more adventure to try and nick a late point from the match.
Rabeeh Kharbudon almost set up fellow second-half sub Muhammed Nemil with a driven cross from the right but Mohamed Simakan made a late intervention to save Al Nassr any blushes.
FC Goa finished the match with 10 men after David Timor was sent off in stoppage time.
Manolo Marquez’s FC Goa side will travel to Saudi Arabia to play Al Nassr at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh for the reverse fixture of ACL 2 on November 5.
Organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the ACL 2 is the continent’s second-tier club football competition, a rung below the AFC Champions League Elite. Sharjah FC of the UAE lifted the inaugural title last season.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant were also part of the ACL Two this season but were disqualified after refusing to travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran for their Group C match against Sepahan SC on September 30.
