Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in the second half — including a late penalty — to lead Al-Nassr to a crucial 3-1 victory over Al-Hilal on Friday in the Saudi Pro League, keeping their title hopes alive.
Cristiano Ronaldo © X
Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in the second half — including a late penalty — to lead Al-Nassr to a crucial 3-1 victory over Al-Hilal on Friday in the Saudi Pro League, keeping their title hopes alive.
Al-Nassr remain in third place with 54 points, now just three behind second-placed Al-Hilal and seven adrift of league leaders Al-Ittihad, who are set to face Al-Ahli on Saturday.
The match opened with intensity as Ali Al Hassan put Al-Nassr ahead before halftime, curling a superb effort past goalkeeper Yassine Bono.
Just two minutes into the second half, Ronaldo doubled the lead, finishing clinically after receiving a precise pass from Sadio Mané.
Al-Hilal responded with urgency, using swift counterattacks to create pressure. Their efforts paid off in the 62nd minute when Ali Al Bulayhi scored with a close-range header from a corner, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
But Ronaldo would have the final say. In the 88th minute, Al-Nassr were awarded a penalty following a VAR review for a handball by substitute Mouteb Al-Harbi. The Portuguese forward made no mistake from the spot, sealing the win.
“The team effort was crucial to this win and me scoring is important but it's more important to win,” Ronaldo said in a post-match interview with SSC.
The victory puts Al-Nassr firmly back in the title race, with the season approaching its decisive phase.
By Richard Covetti
Saudi Arabia issued alerts on Thursday warning of potential danger in Yanbu, the kingdom's Red Sea oil export hub, as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis continue attacks on the kingdom that have opened another front in the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries' defense ministries on Wednesday, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group continues its missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.
Turkey's parliament is set on Wednesday to ratify a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that includes a collective defence clause, committing NATO's second-largest army to Riyadh's defence as it faces attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.
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