For both Al Nassr and Al Hilal, this Friday’s match was crucial for their aspirations in the Saudi Pro League. Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals to give his team an important 3-1 victory, including a powerful left-footed strike and a penalty kick.
With the 2024-25 season nearing its decisive stage, the margin for error is shrinking for the teams competing for the top spots in the standings. Al Ittihad currently lead, but both Al Hilal and Al Nassr are close behind. This made Friday afternoon’s match crucial, as a defeat could be a massive blow.
In this context, Al Nassr appeared better prepared to take on the challenge. During the first 45 minutes, they created several opportunities to take the lead, with the most dangerous being a shot from Jhon Duran that narrowly missed the post. Just when it seemed they would go into halftime tied 0-0, a corner kick led to a pass to Ali Al-Hassan, who unleashed a stunning shot from outside the box that goalkeeper Bono couldn’t keep out.
Cristiano Ronaldo extends Al Nassr’s lead
The goal just before halftime provided Al Nassr with more calm and confidence, while it also dampened Al Hilal‘s energy. This shift in momentum was evident in the second half, where the visitors controlled the game even more, a dominance that was reflected in the early minutes after the break.
Just two minutes into the second half, Marcelo Brozovic played a brilliant through ball to Sadio Mane, who entered the box and, with a defender closing him down, passed to Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward displayed his skill with a left-footed strike that found the back of the net, making it 2-0.
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Al Hilal react
Facing a two-goal deficit and being thoroughly outplayed, Al Hilal found an unexpected response 17 minutes into the second half. Salem Al-Dawsari sent in a corner kick that was flicked on by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, allowing Ali Al-Bulaihi to appear at the back post and score.
Although Al Nassr protested a potential offside, the VAR reviewed the play and confirmed the goal. With the gap narrowed, Al Hilal seemed to regain energy, and in the following minutes, they took control of the match as they pushed for an equalizer.
Cristiano scores his second goal
After withstanding some pressure from Al Hilal, Al Nassr regained control of the ball and secured their third goal following a handball inside the box, confirmed by the VAR. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake, scoring Al Nassr’s third goal and his second of the match with a powerful strike.
