Rahimi brothers inspire Al Ain to stunning 4-0 win over Al Nassr

Wednesday 16 - 14:09

Al Ain made a powerful start to their AFC Champions League Elite campaign on Tuesday, sweeping aside Al Nassr 4-0 in a one-sided contest that saw Moroccan brothers Houssine and Soufiane Rahimi dominate the spotlight.

The pair were directly involved in three of Al Ain’s four goals, combining goalscoring and creativity to punish an Al Nassr side led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Houssine struck twice, while Soufiane added a goal and later provided the assist for the Emirati club’s fourth.

Houssine sets the tone

Al Ain signaled their attacking intentions almost immediately.

Houssine Rahimi came close to opening the scoring inside the first two minutes when his effort struck the post. The early warning was followed by the breakthrough in the 25th minute, when the Moroccan forward found the net to give Al Ain the lead.

Al Nassr struggled to contain the home side’s attacking movement, particularly as spaces began to appear in the Saudi club’s defensive structure.

Houssine remained a constant threat after the interval and doubled Al Ain’s advantage in the 63rd minute, putting his team firmly in control.

Soufiane adds another blow

Nine minutes after Houssine’s second goal, Soufiane Rahimi joined his brother on the scoresheet.

His strike made it 3-0 and effectively ended any realistic prospect of an Al Nassr comeback. The Moroccan midfielder then completed an outstanding individual contribution by setting up Giorgos Giakoumakis for Al Ain’s fourth goal in the 85th minute.

Between them, the Rahimi brothers accounted for three goals and an assist as Al Ain turned the opening fixture of their continental campaign into a statement performance.

Ronaldo unable to change the outcome

Cristiano Ronaldo started for Al Nassr but could not find a response against an Al Ain team that controlled the game and repeatedly exploited defensive gaps.

The Portuguese forward was kept off the scoresheet as Al Nassr failed to generate enough attacking momentum to challenge the Emirati side after conceding the opening goal.

Al Ain, by contrast, maintained their intensity and efficiency throughout the match, turning their opportunities into a decisive victory.

A major night for Morocco’s Rahimi brothers

For Houssine and Soufiane Rahimi, the performance provided a memorable continental stage.

Their combined contribution placed two Moroccan players at the center of one of the most emphatic results of the opening round of the AFC Champions League Elite.

The timing could also attract attention in Morocco. The brothers’ display came just two days before national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi was due to announce his squad for the next international gathering.

Their performance in one of Asia’s premier club competitions consequently provides another significant moment for the Moroccan attackers as the national-team selection approaches.