Al-Ahli 0-1 Al-Nassr: Cristiano Ronaldo Makes The Difference For Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo converted from the spot to end Al-Nassry’s winless run as they scraped past Roberto Firmino’s Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. They returned to winning ways and kept their long-shot title hopes alive as the run heated up.
The King Abdullah Sports City was littered with football superstars on Friday when Al-Ahli hosted Al-Nassr as both sides fielded star power full of household names familiar to many in Europe.
Former Manchester City star and treble winner Riyadh Mahrez, former Champions League winner with Liverpool Firmino, and ex-Barcelona Frank Kessie lined up for Al-Ahli against a star-studded Al-Anassr side led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Lapoter, and Sadio Mane.
However, the match was largely cagey. The two sides were tentative, pulling their punches to avoid overexposing themselves at the back. The competitiveness between the two sides, second and third in the Saudi Pro League, highlighted the common challenges they face in the Saudi Pro League.
While their first half was overly competitive, with no dominant side, Al-Hilal is 12 points clear at the top after 24 rounds of fixtures, and they remain unbeaten this season. The ease with which they have romped to their 68-point tally shows that Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr must improve exponentially to put a glove on Al-Hilal.
The second half was less encumbered as both sides looked to press for the winner. Attackers had more spaces to work with in midfield and the final third. Firmino had the ball in the back of the net but was brutally ruled out by VAR.
A reckless challenge by Roger Ibanez on Sami Al-Najei gave Al-Nassr the opportunity they had been pushing for. In the 68th minute, Ronaldo stepped up to send Edouard Mendy the wrong way and give his side the all-important lead.
Al-Ahli could not find a way back. Al0-Nassr walked away with the three points, and they will look toward the unenviable task of keeping in touching distance of the runaway leaders Al-Hilal in the run-in.
