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March 16, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo Leads Al-Nassr to Crucial Victory at Al-Ahli – Saudi Pro League

JEDDAH: Al-Nassr secured a much-needed 1-0 victory against Al-Ahli in the Roshn Saudi League on Friday, thanks to a second-half penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo. This win keeps Al-Nassr in second place, maintaining a nine-point cushion over their hosts in third.

The King Abdullah Stadium was alive with the energy of a packed crowd, setting the stage for this highly anticipated clash between the two giants from Jeddah and Riyadh. The fans’ enthusiasm added an extra layer of intensity to the game, making it a spectacle to remember.

This victory holds a significant place for Al-Nassr, especially after their recent elimination from the Asian Champions League and a series of setbacks in the league that allowed Al-Hilal to establish a double-digit lead at the top. Notably, this match marked their first clean sheet in ten league games, a much-appreciated turnaround.

The match was far from thrilling, with minimal goal-scoring opportunities in the first half. Only two attempts were recorded in the opening 45 minutes, neither of which was on target despite five minutes of added time.

Al-Nassr’s defensive performance improved compared to recent games, in which they had conceded a staggering 13 goals in their last five outings. Alex Telles made a crucial intervention, preventing Riyad Mahrez from getting a free shot from close range just six minutes in.

Despite controlling two-thirds of the possession, Al-Nassr struggled to convert it into meaningful attacks. They came close to falling behind when Merih Demiral nearly scored, heading Mahrez’s corner against the crossbar in the 37th minute.

Four minutes before halftime, Al-Nassr finally found the back of the net with an opportunistic strike from Ronaldo. He latched onto a pass from Sadio Mane. Although Demiral’s attempted tackle deflected the ball to the right side of the area, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy rushed out but failed to make contact. Ronaldo rolled the ball home from a tight angle, only for VAR to rule it out for offside, as he was just ahead of the last defender when Mane made the pass.

Shortly after the break, Ronaldo found himself in a promising position, intercepting a risky backpass that put him through on goal. With only the keeper to beat, the Portuguese star surged forward. Still, Mendy reacted brilliantly, diving at Ronaldo’s feet and expertly pushing the ball away just as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner prepared to strike. It was a crucial intervention that kept the game level and prevented what seemed like a specific goal for Al-Nassr.

Al-Nassr displayed a newfound urgency, increasingly threatening their opponents. However, it was Al-Ahli who found the net next. Allan Saint-Maximin skillfully cut the ball inside from the area’s right side, setting up Roberto Firmino for a goal. The celebrations erupted, but VAR intervened again, disallowing the goal for offside.

After two disallowed goals, VAR finally played a pivotal role in favor of Al-Nassr. Midway through the second half, the referee consulted the field monitor and was given a penalty following Roger Ibanez’s foul on Sami Al-Najei. Ronaldo, who had scored two penalties in their previous match against Al-Ain, confidently converted the spot-kick again.

Al-Ahli pushed hard to equalize, but Al-Nassr’s newly determined defense held firm, with players putting their bodies on the line to protect the lead. Al-Nassr’s attackers also looked likely to extend their advantage, with Marcelo Brozovic firing just wide from outside the area after a Ronaldo setup.

As a 99th-minute header from Fahad Al-Rashidi went wide and Mahrez’s free-kick came to nothing, Al-Nassr secured a much-needed victory. While this win doesn’t reignite the title race, especially with Al-Hilal poised to extend their lead against Damac on Saturday, coach Luis Castro can breathe a little easier knowing his team is back on track.

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