Gamba Osaka Edges Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo in Asian Champions League Two Final
- On Saturday, May 16, 2026, Al-Nassr lost 1-0 to Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, as Turkish forward Deniz Hammat scored in the 30th minute.
- Gamba Osaka relied on defensive discipline throughout the tournament, focusing on organization and tight scorelines to neutralize Al-Nassr's attacking threat despite the Saudi club averaging 2.6 goals per match.
- Despite Al-Nassr dominating possession, Joao Felix struck the post with 13 minutes remaining, while the goal stood after a lengthy VAR check confirmed no offside infraction.
- After the final whistle, Cristiano Ronaldo walked away from his teammates and did not reappear to collect his runner-up medal, leaving head coach Jorge Jesus to lead the squad to the podium.
- Al-Nassr can still secure the Saudi Pro League title by defeating Damac on Thursday, leading Al-Hilal by two points and offering Ronaldo his first major trophy since joining in 2023.
109 Articles
109 Articles
CR7 could not avoid a further disappointment with the Saudi club after falling to Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League 2 Final
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, missed out on another title with Al-Nassr on Saturday, leaving him inconsolable after the final defeat to Gamba Osaka.
Asian Stage Trophy X -> Sangam Nightmare: Another No-Show After 7 Years. Ronaldo Blocked by Japan's Gamba and Skips Silver Medal Ceremony. OSEN = Reporter Lee In-hwan. There was neither a championship trophy nor a silver medal. Cristiano Ronaldo (41) and Al Nassr once again stood at the center of a 'no-show' controversy. On the 17th...
Cristiano Ronaldo accused of 'bad sportsmanship' after snubbing trophy celebration following defeat in cup final
Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of "bad sportsmanship" after snubbing the trophy celebrations of Gamba Osaka following his side's defeat in the AFC Champions League Two final.The footballing icon featured in Al Nassr's 1-0 defeat after coming into the game as favourites to win Asian football's second-tier club competition, equivalent to Europe's Europa League.As his teammates collected their silver medals, Ronaldo was nowhere to be seen, as f…
He could be champion with his team on Thursday, which would be his first Saudi trophy.
Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr club and its Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a painful blow after losing to its Japanese guest Gamba Osaka by a score of (1-0) in the final match of the AFC Champions League 2, which was held on Saturday evening in the Saudi capital, Riyadh...
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