Kenyan international Masoud Juma’s Esteghlal fought hard to secure a barren draw at home against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.The Iranian club welcomed Al Nassr for an AFC Champions League Round of 16 match that was played on Monday, 3 March at the 78,000-seater Azadi Stadium in Tehran.Benni McCarthy-mania on show in rare Harambee Stars unveilingAl Nassr and Esteghlal were pitted against each other after finishing in third and sixth position, respectively, in the league phase of the Asian premier club football competition.With most pundits and gamers backing Al Nassr to go past Esteghlal, the Iranian giants stood their ground, going toe-to-toe with the Saudi club and ensuring that there will be all to fight for in the second leg.##NAJAVA_MECA_8744441##However, both Juma and Ronaldo were missing for their respective teams, making it impossible, at least for the night, for the two to share a pitch in what the former Kariobangi Sharks forward considered a ‘dream come true’.Juma has been unavailable in the last three matches for the nine-time Iranian league champions, with his last appearance coming on Tuesday, 18 February, in their 2-0 win over Qatar side Al Rayyan.Recap of Gor Mahia’s 11 transfers in the mid-season transfer windowThe former Cape Town City striker started that match but was replaced in the 34th minute by Alireza Koushki after picking up an injury, which has kept him on the sidelines since then.Ronaldo also missed the match through what his coach Stefano Pioli termed as a ‘physical problem’, even though Iranian media reported that the Portuguese star was running away from an Iranian law.##NAJAVA_MECA_8744404##Ronaldo was facing a possible punishment of 99 lashes for hugging and kissing a disabled artist back in 2023, contrary to Iranian laws that permit one to only kiss their spouse.The other controversy surrounding the first leg match was the fact that Al Nassr’s request to have the match played on a neutral ground for security purposes was rejected by Esteghlal, who insisted on hosting the match at their Azadi Stadium backyard.8 brothers featuring in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League [LIST]Masoud will be hoping that both Ronaldo and himself shake off their injuries and be selected by their coaches to achieve his dream when Esteghlal travel to Saudi for the second leg on Monday, 10 March at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh.
