Al Nassr soared to a 3-1 victory against Al Fateh at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, climbing to No. 3 in the Saudi Pro League standings.
Facing the league's bottom club, Al Nassr dominated from the outset. Cristiano Ronaldo, who will turn 40 in less than two weeks, showcased his enduring prowess throughout the match. In the 37th minute, Ronaldo found the net with a spectacular volley, but the goal was overturned after a VAR review for offside.
The home fans didn't have to wait long to celebrate. Just four minutes later, a cross from Angelo was inadvertently deflected by Al Fateh's defender Marwane Saadane into his own net, giving Al Nassr a 1-0 lead before halftime.
The momentum continued into the second half. Twelve minutes after the restart, Angelo delivered a pinpoint freekick, and Mohamed Simakan rose above the defense to head the ball into the goal, extending Al Nassr's lead to 2-0.
However, Al Fateh fought back in the 72nd minute. Mourad Batna capitalized on a defensive error, dispossessing goalkeeper Bento Krepski and blasting a powerful shot to narrow the deficit to 2-1, injecting tension back into the game.
Al Nassr sealed their victory three minutes before full time. Sadio Mane delivered a precise cross to Ronaldo, who confidently struck the ball into the net, marking the 920th goal of his illustrious career.
Despite the win, Al Nassr remain eight points behind league leaders Al Ittihad, but the team's performance has ignited optimism among fans for the remainder of the season.
Reference(s):
Ronaldo scores 920th career goal for Al Nassr to beat Al Fateh
cgtn.com
