Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return from a brief injury layoff with a brace, helping Al-Nassr secure a 5–2 victory over Al-Najma and move six points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings. To make things better for CR7, the match also marked Ronaldo’s 100th league appearance for the Saudi club, adding further significance to an already impressive night for the 41-year-old.
The veteran striker had been sidelined after sustaining a hamstring injury, which forced him to miss Portugal’s two FIFA World Cup warm-up matches in the United States. Despite the spell out, the 41-year-old showed no signs of rust, taking his overall career tally to a remarkable 967 goals. His performance once again underlined his importance to Al-Nassr’s title push this season.
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RONALDO NEARS FIRST TITLE WITH AL-NASSR?
Al-Nassr had largely dominated proceedings in the first half but were caught off guard in the 44th minute. Felippe Cardoso led a swift counterattack and set up Rakan Al Tulayhi with a display of strength and skill. Al Tulayhi made no mistake, firing a powerful shot from the edge of the box into the back of the net. Despite the setback, the league leaders responded strongly, scoring twice before halftime to take control of the match heading into the break.
Early in the second half, Cardoso once again made his presence felt by restoring parity for Al-Najma. He curled in a well-taken effort following a precise cutback from David Tijanic. However, Al-Nassr quickly regained composure.
Ronaldo, who was on the pitch for just over 83 minutes, opened his account in the 56th minute from the penalty spot. The opportunity came after Al-Najma full-back Abdullah Al Hawsawi was penalized for a handball inside the box. Ronaldo calmly converted the spot-kick, allowing Al-Nassr to regain the lead after both sides had remained level during the early stages of the second half.
The Portuguese captain was, however, not done yet. He went on to double his tally for the night after latching onto an excellent pass from Nawaf Bouchel and finishing with composure and finesse. His second goal effectively sealed the result and highlighted his clinical edge in front of goal.
The brace marked Ronaldo’s 23rd league goal of the season, placing him third in the scoring charts behind Ivan Toney, who has 25 goals, and Julian Quinones, who has 24. The victory provides Al-Nassr with valuable breathing space at the top of the table. They now hold a four-point cushion over their closest rivals, Al-Hilal, who still have a game in hand and remain firmly in contention for the title.
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