RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact was felt as he revived Al-Nassr’s slim hopes of winning the Saudi Pro League title in his first season with the club. Ronaldo’s penalty goal contributed to a 2-0 victory over Al-Ta’ee on Tuesday.
With league leaders Al-Ittihad squandering a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 with Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr narrowed the gap to three points from the top spot with three games remaining in the season.
Although Al-Ittihad still maintains an advantage in their head-to-head record against Al-Nassr, which serves as the first tiebreaker if teams finish level on points, the victory has injected renewed hope for Al-Nassr in their pursuit of the title.
At Al-Ta’ee Stadium in Ha’il, Ronaldo broke the deadlock from the penalty spot shortly after halftime. Brazilian midfielder Talisca sealed the victory for Al-Nassr with a goal ten minutes before the final whistle.
Meanwhile, at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Al-Hilal staged a remarkable comeback against Al-Ittihad, scoring controversial goals at the end of each half to secure a 2-2 draw.
Ronald’s Outstanding Performance in Saudi Pro League
Al-Ittihad initially took the lead through goals from Igor Coronado and Ahmed Bamsoud within the first half-hour of the match. However, Al-Hilal’s Musab Aljuwayr reduced the deficit four minutes before halftime. The teenager’s cross seemed to be kept in play by Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe, and the game continued for over a minute before the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) confirmed that the ball had indeed crossed the goal line.
In stoppage time at the end of the match, Al-Hilal forward Michael’s shot appeared to have been cleared by defender Ahmed Hegazy. However, VAR once again intervened, confirming that the ball had crossed the goal line.
Adding insult to injury, the Brazilian player replicated Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous “Siiii!” goal celebration in front of the Al-Ittihad fans, further infuriating the visiting team.
Ronaldo’s impact in the victory for Al-Nassr, coupled with Al-Hilal’s comeback against Al-Ittihad, has heightened the excitement and competitiveness in the Saudi Pro League title race. With just three games remaining, the battle for the championship promises to deliver thrilling encounters as teams vie for the top spot.
