RIYADH — In a thrilling encounter at Riyadh's Al-Awwal Park, Al-Nassr secured a pulsating 4-3 victory against arch-rivals Al-Ahli during the seventh round of the Saudi Professional League.
This exhilarating win propelled Al-Nassr to 15 points, lifting them to fifth place ahead of Al-Ahli on goal difference and extending their lead over league leaders Al-Ittihad to a formidable three points.
Al-Nassr showcased their resurgence with seven consecutive victories, including five in the league and two in Asia, scoring 27 goals while conceding only six.
The team entered the high-stakes clash buoyed by their recent triumph over Persepolis in Tehran, where they clinched a remarkable 2-0 victory in their AFC Champions League opener.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a post-game star, expressed his enthusiasm: "We started with a bang, grabbing an early two-goal lead. Our ultimate goal was the win, and to bring smiles to our fans' faces. We now top the leaderboard."
Ronaldo affirmed his enduring passion for the sport, stating, "I still love football, even at my age. I'll continue until my legs say Cristiano is done. But for now, I feel great and I'm here to help the team."
The smoke from the stadium's fireworks had barely dissipated when Al-Nassr took the lead. Senegalese Sadio Mané's precise pass found Ronaldo, who elegantly dribbled past defenders and slotted the ball past Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy just five minutes into the game.
Ronaldo came close to doubling the lead, narrowly missing a pinpoint cross from Brazilian maestro Anderson Talisca at the ninth minute.
However, Al-Nassr continued their dominance. Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte delivered a precise header to Talisca, who nodded it in from the far post at the 17th minute.
Gradually, Al-Ahli found their rhythm. Ivorian midfielder Frank Kessié capitalized on a through-ball, dribbled past defenders, and slotted it home at the 30th minute.
Injury time of the first half saw Al-Ahli with a golden opportunity to level the score. Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga displayed mesmerizing footwork inside the box, eluding defenders and passing the ball to Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin. However, an Al-Nassr defender intervened at the last moment to thwart the chance.
Al-Ahli paid a hefty price for that missed opportunity as Al-Nassr extended their lead. Talisca controlled the ball at the edge of the box and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike that rattled the crossbar before nestling into the net at the 45+6th minute.
Early in the second half, the referee awarded a penalty to Al-Ahli's Bassam Al-Hurigi after he was fouled by Talisca, and Algerian Riyad Mahrez confidently converted it at the 49th minute.
After Mané missed a chance to score the fourth goal with a one-on-one opportunity, firing the ball high at the 51st minute, Ronaldo completed his second goal. Talisca delivered the ball to Ronaldo, who evaded a defender with a deft dribble and struck the ball low with his left foot from outside the box, finding the back of the net at the 52nd minute.
Ronaldo solidified his position as the league's top scorer with nine goals, holding a three-goal lead over his teammate Mané and Al-Hilal's Salem Al-Dosari, who both have six goals.
Al-Ahli attempted a comeback but couldn't breach the goalkeeper, even when Brazilian striker Firmino had a header opportunity at the 65th minute.
Saudi national team striker Feras Al Brikan, a second-half substitute, narrowed the gap two minutes before the game's end, capitalizing on a pass from Mahrez.
With the referee adding 10 minutes of stoppage time, the game remained on a knife's edge. Despite their efforts, Al-Ahli couldn't secure more than a point, even hitting the crossbar in the dying moments.
