Cristiano Ronaldo, you lucky boy! Jhon Duran bails out wasteful CR7 after dreadful penalty miss - but Portuguese superstar ultimately converts as Al-Nassr edge Al-Khaleej

It was a must-win game for Al-Nassr to keep their Champions League Elite hopes alive. And after a lacklustre first half, they somehow managed to get the three points.

In the opening 45 minutes, Stefano Pioli's men resembled a Sunday league team who had forgotten their shooting boots. Ronaldo had several opportunities to break the deadlock, but the Portuguese missed the target. His strike partner, Duran, had an empty net to aim at in the 23rd minute, but he somehow managed to hit wide.

After the hour mark, Al-Nassr earned a penalty after Sultan Al-Ghannam was brought down inside the box. Ronaldo stepped up to convert, but the forward hit the outside of the post, much to the dismay of the home support. Minutes later, he was set up by Duran, but the 40-year-old once again failed to hit the target.

Just as panic was setting in at Al-Awwal Park, the former Aston Villa star rose highest to head home a cross from Sadio Mane in the 75th minute. Although it was a nervy final quarter for the hosts, Ronaldo's stoppage-time spot-kick put the game to bed.

Duran emerged as the difference-maker between the two sides, and the Colombian was undoubtedly the MVP of the match. On an evening when both Ronaldo and Mane went missing, the striker rose to the occassion in what was a must-win encounter for Al-Nassr.

Denied a couple of times by the woodwork, it was just not Ronaldo's evening in Riyadh. The Portuguese found himself on the receiving end of several goal-scoring opportunities, but luck was not on his side. Although he did redeem himself marginally in stoppage time from the penalty spot, one would expect better from the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

After this win, Al-Nassr are now just a point behind third-placed Al-Qadsiyah. Ronaldo and Co. must win their final league match against Al-Fateh on Monday and hope that Al-Qadsiyah drop points against Al-Hilal to qualify for the Champions League Elite.