Frank Christian
Cristiano Ronaldo put a tough week behind him by leading Al Nassr to a thrilling 2-1 win against Al Shabab, highlighted by dramatic penalty incidents during the Riyadh derby.
Ronaldo exited the pitch angrily after Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Scotland in the UEFA Nations League, but his return to club football proved to be much more rewarding.
The match saw Al Nassr taking the lead with a brilliant goal from Aymeric Laporte in the second half, aiming for their sixth consecutive win since coach Pioli, who previously managed AC Milan, took charge last month.
However, a late own goal by Ali Alhassan in the 90th minute marked the first time Al Nassr conceded a goal in the Saudi Pro League under Pioli, raising concerns about their position in the standings against the leading Al Hilal.
The match took an unexpected turn when Al Nassr substitute Abdulrahman Ghareeb was fouled by Brazilian defender Robert Renan, leading to a penalty for his team.
Ronaldo, unfazed by the delay as opponents tried to disrupt him, calmly converted the penalty into the bottom right corner, outsmarting goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.
| GOAL: CRISTIANO RONALDO GIVES AL NASSR THE LEAD IN THE LAST MINUTE OF THE GAME!!!
Al Shabab 1-2 Al Nassr
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) October 18, 2024
In a twist, a foul by Mohamed Simakan on Nader Al-Sharari during an Al Shabab corner resulted in another penalty after a detailed VAR check, leading to Simakan’s dismissal for his earlier actions.
Abderrazak Hamdallah, once a star for Al Nassr, stepped up for the penalty but shockingly hit the post with what was practically the final kick of the match.
Currently, Al Nassr sits four points behind leaders Al Hilal, who have secured all seven of their matches this season. If Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad defeats Al Qadisiyah on Saturday, they will take the second position.
