Ronaldo Scores Twice to Gift Al Nassr a 3-1 Win

Cristiano Ronaldo\’s magical effort as he scored twice helped beat 10-man Al Khaleej to keep Al-Nassr\’s Saudi Pro League title bid alive.

The match kicked off with what proved to be a balanced encounter, but after the half-hour mark, the hosts were reduced to 10 men when Saeed Al-Hamsal was given the marching orders to an early shower, but Al-Nassr showed little dominance. The defender had handled the ball outside the penalty area using his hand, as the VAR deemed the intervention a denial of a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity, which led to the expulsion. Al-Khaleej\’s manager, Georgios Donis, was also shown the red card as he lost his temper and furiously confronted the referee for the decision; this saw him take a seat in the stands.

Al-Nassr continued to play at a very slow pace despite their number advantage over the hosts, and the frustration was palpable on Ronaldo\’s face. The Portuguese had to frequently drop deeper to get more touches on the ball, and he kept persistently trying his luck from a distance. He reaped his rewards in the 65th minute as he scored a clinical goal from a low volley he unleashed into the left corner of the net after Otavio set him up with a back flick.

The lead was short-lived, with Kostas Fortounis equalizing from the spot after the ball struck Ali Lajami\’s hand. However, just a minute later, Al Nassr once again had their noses in front when Sultan Al-Ghannam rifled in a shot at goal after he was put through on goal by Brozovic. The Croatian again split open Al-Khaleej\’s defense deep in injury time to set up Haqaqi, who unselfishly squared to Ronaldo to tap home his second of the match into an empty net. The scoreline might be flattering, but the performance was far from it. They struggled until the 80th minute, and only a late surge against tired legs helped them get over the line.

Al Nassr found themselves in what proved to be a tough match, clamoring for individual brilliance from their talisman, Ronaldo, who did not disappoint. as he struck twice to ensure them maximum points home.