Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo put on a spectacular display as they effortlessly defeated a struggling Al-Hazhem side in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese superstar showcased his skills by scoring a goal and providing two assists, contributing significantly to Al-Nassr’s third consecutive victory. The team arrived at the match in high spirits, having secured impressive wins against Al-Fateh and Al-Shabab in their previous outings.
From the onset, the game was filled with excitement, with goals disallowed, intense moments, fouls, and yellow cards. Al-Nassr took control of possession early on, and although it took them until the half-hour mark to break the deadlock, they came close to opening the scoring sooner. Al Khaibari had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside following a well-rehearsed corner routine. The VAR reviewed the decision for three minutes, highlighting the fine margins that can influence the outcome of a match. Al-Hazhem also had their moments, attempting to surprise their opponents. Vina unleashed a superb volley after Laporte’s clearance from a free-kick, but Al-Aqidi made an impressive save to deny them.
The team in yellow eventually took the lead after the hydration break, with Ghareeb capitalizing on a Cristiano Ronaldo assist following a turnover in the opposition’s half. Just two minutes later, the VAR intervened again, disallowing a goal by Mané due to a previous foul committed by Al-Ghannam. In the dying moments of the first half, Al-Nassr extended their lead through Al-Khaibari, who found himself unmarked at the far post from a corner and clinically finished past Dahmen.
The second half began with a surprise as Mané struck the post before Al-Hazhem reduced the deficit with a spectacular long-range goal from Badammosi in the 47th minute. However, this setback did not deter Al-Nassr, as they responded brilliantly. Around eight minutes later, they restored their two-goal advantage through a well-worked team move involving Brozovic, a crucial assist from Cristiano Ronaldo, and a composed finish by Otávio.
Following the third goal, a sense of apparent calm settled over the match. However, this calm was short-lived, as Cristiano Ronaldo found the back of the net once again after Ghareeb unselfishly set him up inside the box. The Senegalese sensation Sadio Mané completed the masterclass performance by Al-Nassr, adding the fifth goal with a powerful low shot from outside the area.
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