Anderson Talisca propelled Al-Nassr to a thrilling comeback win against Al-Duhail, preserving their flawless record in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Brazilian notched a hat-trick, guiding the Knights of Najd to a 3-2 triumph over the Qatari champions and bringing them closer to securing a place in the knockout phase with their fourth consecutive victory in Group E.
In a clash featuring two Brazilian compatriots, former Liverpool and Barcelona forward Philippe Coutinho drew first blood for Al-Duhail, albeit amid controversy.
A possible foul in the build-up didn’t deter the goal, as Kenyan striker Michael Olunga provided the assist for Coutinho’s close-range strike in the eighth minute.
This early setback seemed to awaken Al-Nassr, the reigning Arab Cup champions, who intensified their efforts. Anderson Talisca, leading the charge in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence, combined with Abdulrahman Ghareeb to level the score with a left-footed finish just before the half-hour mark.
Ten minutes later, the former Besiktas star unleashed an impressive long-range strike, reminiscent of Roberto Carlos, to tilt the scales in favour of the visiting side.
Maintaining their momentum in the second half, Al-Nassr patiently waited for their third goal.
In a swift counterattack, Ghareeb selflessly set up the red-hot Talisca, who calmly found the back of the net, extending their lead.
However, Coutinho’s penalty strike ten minutes before the final whistle injected some tension into the game.
A handball by Marcelo Brozovic led to the opportunity, but ultimately, it didn’t alter the outcome as Luis Castro’s squad held on to secure their fourth consecutive victory, solidifying their position at the top of Group E with an impressive 12 points.
