RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Al Nassr became the third Saudi Arabian side into the Asian Champions League semi-finals with a 4-1 victory over Japan’s Yokohama F-Marinos on Saturday.

Earlier, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino scored as Al Ahli, effectively playing as hosts since the last three rounds of the revamped tournament are being staged in Jeddah, beat Thailand’s Buriram United 3-0 at King Abdullah Sports City.

In the evening, at the same venue, Ronaldo, seeking a first major trophy with Riyadh-based Al Nassr, continued his fine goalscoring form netting his side’s third.

Ronaldo, 40, was involved in Al Nassr’s first real chance of note, when he back-heeled Marcelo Brozovic’s pass back into the path of the Croatian. But the shot was parried by Yokohama goalkeeper Park Il-gyu.

Yokohama, last year’s runners-up, last week sacked former England assistant manager Steve Holland.

Al Nassr’s winter signing Jhon Duran opened the scoring on 27 minutes and shortly after Sadio Mane made it 2-0 as he drilled a low effort inside Park’s near post.

Ronaldo got in on the act seven minutes before half time. Park could only palm Brozovic’s deflected shot into the air, leaving the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to pounce to volley home from inside the six-yard box.

Ronaldo, the top scorer in this season’s Saudi Pro League, has eight in seven appearances in this campaign’s Champions League Elite, one short of joint-top scorers Riyad Mahrez, Salem Al-Dawsari, Anderson and Jasir Asani.

Duran got his second of the night on 49 minutes after a Ronaldo-led counter-attack. The Colombia international pouncing on a rebound to put Al Nassr four up.

Yokohama pulled one back three minutes later through Kota Watanabe’s low strike that nestled in the net beyond Brazil goalkeeper Bento.

Watanabe was later sent off for receiving a second yellow card, leaving Yokohama to finish the match with 10 men.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025