Cristiano Ronaldo propelled Al-Nassr to a decisive triumph, reducing the distance between them and the league-leading Al-Hilal.
The Knights of Najd secured a 3-0 victory over Al Akhdoud, courtesy of Ronaldo’s impressive brace and Sami Al Naji’s first goal of the season.
The game kicked off with Al-Nassr asserting dominance, as Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca and Ronaldo continuously challenged the visitors’ defense.
However, it was Al Naji, in just his seventh appearance, who ultimately opened the scoring. His goal, stemming from a superb passing sequence, featured a delightful finish that brought joy to the home crowd.
While the home team sought to increase their advantage, they encountered a sturdy defense from Al Akhdoud, resulting in a deadlock by halftime. Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro aimed to alter the game’s dynamics, implementing substitutions ten minutes into the second half.
Despite initial challenges for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo became influential in the final 15 minutes. Initially having a goal disallowed for offside, he later extended the lead with an impressive strike from a narrow-angle.
Capitalizing on a defensive lapse, he secured his team’s victory with a powerful shot from nearly 30 yards away.
Securing this victory brings Al-Nassr within striking distance of Al-Hilal, now trailing by only one point, despite having played an additional game.
Next on the agenda for Ronaldo and his teammates is a match in the AFC Champions League against the Iranian club Persepolis on Monday, November 27.