Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty secured Al Nassr’s 2-0 victory over Al Wehda on Friday, marking their third win in five games in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season and elevating them to third place in the standings.
The match began dominantly for Al Nassr. Wesley Ribeiro narrowly missed putting the hosts ahead when his shot struck the woodwork. Their persistence paid off in the 40th minute when Ângelo Gabriel converted a precise through ball from Sadio Mane, giving Al Nassr a deserved lead.
Al Wehda showed resilience in the second half, with Juninho Bacuna testing goalkeeper Bento, who made a crucial save to maintain his team’s advantage. However, the visitors’ hopes were dampened when Mohamed Al Makahasi fouled Sultan Al Ghannam in the penalty area in the 56th minute, leading to a penalty.
Cristiano Ronaldo confidently dispatched the spot-kick, extending Al Nassr’s lead. Although Sadio Mane found the net in the 81st minute, the goal was disallowed due to Ronaldo being offside during the buildup.
Al Wehda’s challenges intensified when Waleed Bakhashwain received his second yellow card for dissent in the 86th minute, leaving his team with ten men for the remainder of the match. Despite the numerical advantage, Al Nassr was unable to add to their tally.
With this victory, Al Nassr climbs to third place, just one point behind league leaders Al Ittihad and Al Hilal, setting the stage for an exciting title race in the Saudi Pro League.
Reference(s):
Cristiano Ronaldo scores a penalty for Al Nassr to beat Al Wehda
cgtn.com
