NEW DELHI: In a captivating AFC Champions League encounter between Al Nassr and Persepolis, Cristiano Ronaldo took centre stage, influencing a pivotal moment that saw the referee reverse a penalty decision in the Saudi Pro League side's 0-0 draw with the Iranian outfit.The 38-year-old football icon, formerly of Manchester Unitedand Real Madrid, found himself at the centre of controversy when Chinese referee Ma Ning initially awarded a penalty after Ronaldo appeared to be brought down by Persepolis' Soroush Rafiei.Displaying his trademark determination, Ronaldo vehemently contested the decision, wagging his finger and shaking his head.The persuasive influence of Ronaldo prompted the referee to consult VAR, leading to a surprising reversal of the penalty decision after reviewing the incident on the pitch-side monitor.

The turn of events added a dramatic twist to the Group E clash in Riyadh.Despite playing most of the match with 10 men following Ali Lajami's 17th-minute red card, Al Nassr secured a crucial point, allowing them to top Group E and advance to the knockout stages.

Ronaldo's impact extended beyond the penalty controversy; he unfortunately left the field with a neck injury sustained during a collision with Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.The numerical advantage and Ronaldo's injury posed challenges for Al Nassr, but Persepolis failed to capitalise, resulting in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.In a separate AFC Champions League fixture, Saudi champions Al Ittihad secured a vital 2-1 victory against AGMK FC, with Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah scoring twice.

This win places Al Ittihad in a favourable position to clinch group victory in their final match.Group C saw Sepahan emerge victorious with a 1-0 win over Iraq's Air Force Club, despite being reduced to nine men.

Farshad Ahmadzadeh's early goal and resilient defence secured the three points.As the AFC Champions League progresses, the final two rounds of East Zone matches will soon kick off, setting the stage for the knockout stages in February.

The West Zone group stage concludes next week, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and two-legged final scheduled for March, April, and May, respectively.(With inputs from AFP)