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Cristiano Ronaldo punishes Al-Fayha! to send Al-Nassr into AFC Champions League quarter-finals
It was one-way traffic right from the start at Al-Awwal Stadium as Al-Nassr dominated possession, with Marcelo Brozovic pulling the strings from a deep-lying position in midfield. And they did not have to wait for long to break the deadlock as Otavio headed home an inch-perfect cross from Al-Khaibari in the 17th minute.
Although Ronaldo took his time to make his presence felt, once he warmed up he was right in the thick of things in attack. He was clamouring for a penalty after he was brought down inside the box by two Al-Fayha players, before being denied by the woodwork having risen highest in the penalty area.
Al-Nassr pushed on in search of their second of the night following the break and Ronaldo did find the net, but he was flagged offside after he mistimed his run by a fraction of a second.
However, with just four minutes from regulation time, the prolific forward put the tie to bed by finally getting his name on the scoresheet. A half-baked clearance from goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic ricocheted and fell kindly for Ronaldo, who simply rolled the ball into a gaping goal to seal a 3-0 victory over the two legs for the Knights of Najd against their domestic rivals.
A late goal was the icing on the cake for Ronaldo, who came agonisingly close on a couple of occasions on the night. After emerging as the difference-maker in the first leg with an 81st-minute winner, the 39-year-old once again proved to be a handful for Al-Fayha defenders throughout the 90 minutes. Despite being denied by the frame of the goal and the offside flag, he kept asking questions and was finally rewarded for his perseverance late into the night.
Al-Fayha goalkeeper Stojkovic must shoulder his fair share of blame after his team were knocked out of the continental competition. He could have done better with his legs to save Otavio’s header and was again indecisive with the clearance that led to Al-Nassr’s second of the night. A performance to forget for the Serbian shot-stopper.
Al-Nassr will now shift focus on their domestic commitments as they are set to host Al-Shabab next in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday. They are chasing leaders Al-Hilal, who are seven points ahead of them in the title race and can hardly afford to slip up.
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**Title:** Croatia confirm Slaven Bilic return as former West Ham boss replaces Zlatko Dalic **Meta Description:** Slaven Bilic has been appointed Croatia head coach for a second spell after Zlatko Dalic stepped down following the 2026 World Cup. **Slug:** croatia-confirm-slaven-bilic-return-head-coach **Alt Image Text:** Slaven Bilic during his unveiling as Croatia national team head coach — # Croatia confirm Slaven Bilic return as former West Ham boss replaces Zlatko Dalic Croatia have officially confirmed the return of Slaven Bilic as head coach, with the former West Ham United manager replacing Zlatko Dalic following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bilic returns to the national team after more than a decade away, ending a two-year absence from management as he begins a second spell in charge of his country. ## Bilic begins a second spell with Croatia The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) announced Bilic’s appointment after the Executive Committee unanimously approved the recommendation of federation president Marijan Kustic. Bilic previously managed Croatia between 2006 and 2012, guiding the national team through two European Championships before embarking on a successful club coaching career that included spells with West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion, Besiktas and Al-Ittihad. The federation believes his experience and deep understanding of Croatian football make him the ideal candidate to lead the next generation. ## Huge task replacing Zlatko Dalic Bilic succeeds one of the most successful managers in Croatia’s history. Dalic stepped down after the 2026 World Cup, bringing an end to a remarkable tenure that included a World Cup final, a World Cup semi-final and several memorable tournament campaigns. Federation president Marijan Kustic acknowledged the size of the challenge but expressed complete confidence in Bilic. > “I would like to once again thank Zlatko for the exceptional results he achieved during his tenure. It is not easy to follow in his footsteps, but we are convinced Slaven is the right person for this role.” Kustic added that Bilic’s international pedigree and extensive coaching experience were decisive factors behind the appointment. ## Bilic honoured to return Bilic described his return as the greatest honour of his coaching career and admitted he understands the expectations that come with leading one of international football’s most consistent tournament teams. > “I would like to thank President Kustic and the Federation’s leadership for the confidence they have shown in allowing me to lead the Croatian national team once again — the greatest honour for any Croatian coach.” The 57-year-old also praised the standards established under Dalic while insisting he is ready for the responsibility. > “I am fully aware of the high expectations that follow such a remarkable period under Zlatko Dalic, but anyone who takes charge of Croatia must be prepared for that because we are a football nation that lives and breathes its national team.” ## A new chapter begins Bilic now faces the task of building on Dalic’s legacy while preparing Croatia for the next international cycle. With a blend of experienced stars and emerging young talent at his disposal, Croatia will hope their returning manager can guide them to another successful era on the international stage.
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