Cristiano Ronaldo’s Double Saves Al-Nassr in Thrilling Comeback Against Al-Riyadh

 Cristiano Ronaldo once again proved why he's considered one of the greatest footballers in history. On Saturday night, the Portuguese superstar delivered a sensational second-half performance to lead Al-Nassr to a 2-1 comeback victory over Al-Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League. His brace not only kept Al-Nassr's slim title hopes alive but also reinforced his red-hot form this season.

Al-Nassr Trail at the Break Despite Dominance:

Al-Nassr started the match with attacking intent and controlled the pace, dominating ball possession and creating a series of chances. Sadio Mané and Marcelo Brozović led the charge in midfield, trying to find openings in a compact Al-Riyadh defense. However, football’s unpredictability struck in the 45th minute when Al-Riyadh opened the scoring through Faiz Selemani. The goal came after a powerful run by Abdullah Al-Khaibari and a rebound finish that stunned the home crowd.

Did you know? Al-Riyadh had only scored the opening goal in four matches this season before this fixture.

Ronaldo Strikes Twice to Flip the Script:

The second half was a different story as Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and took control. In the 55th minute, Sadio Mané delivered a perfect low cross across the face of the goal, and Ronaldo tapped in the equalizer with ease. Just nine minutes later, the Portuguese icon produced a moment of brilliance. After Al-Riyadh failed to clear a cross properly, the ball fell kindly to Ronaldo, who smashed a first-time volley into the top corner from the edge of the box — a goal that sent the stadium into a frenzy.

Did you know? Ronaldo has now scored in five consecutive Saudi Pro League matches, tallying seven goals in that span.

Late Drama and Duran’s Struggles:

The drama didn’t stop with Ronaldo’s heroics. In stoppage time, Al-Riyadh’s Ahmed Asiri received a red card after slapping Al-Nassr forward Jhon Durán following a heated exchange. Durán, despite his high-profile arrival in January, had a disappointing evening, missing several clear-cut chances that could have sealed the game earlier. His struggles in front of goal were a stark contrast to Ronaldo’s clinical finishing.

Did you know? Jhon Durán joined Al-Nassr from Aston Villa for over €70 million, becoming one of the most expensive signings in Saudi football.

Cristiano Ronaldo First Goal against Al-Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo Second Goal against Al-Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy age and expectations with performances that uplift his team. With this win, Al-Nassr remain mathematically in the title race, and fans will hope that their captain can keep delivering these match-winning moments. The match also exposed areas for improvement, particularly in attack, as Ronaldo can’t carry the load alone every game.

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