Cristiano Ronaldo took his tally to 15 goals in the 2023/24 Saudi Professional League as Al Nassr beat Al Akhdoud 3-0 at home.
Al Nasr have now reduced the title gap to one point behind leaders Al Hilal, with Ronaldo’s late rally ensuring Riyadh all three points on the night.
Sami Alnagy’s early goal calmed the home side’s nerves as they returned to domestic action, but Luis Castro’s side were forced to rely on Ronaldo to get them over the line in the closing stages.
Poor goalkeeping played a big part in Ronaldo’s brace, with Paul Vitor at fault for both goals, but the Portugal star’s audacious second from long-range was his first in Saudi Arabia One of the best goals ever.
MORE: Top scorers in Saudi Professional League 2023/2024: Golden boot updated
| result | goal scorer | |
| Al Nasr | 3 | Alnagy, Ronaldo x2 |
| Ahdoud | 0 | — |
line-up:
Al Nasr (4-2-3-1): Najjar (GK) — Alganam, Alamri, Fatil, Thales (Malan, 90+3) — Fofana (Al Sulayhim, 58), Alnaj (Brozovic, 58) — Ottavio (Alhassan, 88), Talisca, Ghareeb (Yahya, 58) — Ronaldo.
Al-Ahdoud (5-4-1): Vito (GK) — Al Zabdani, Khamis (Al Harthi, 60), Kvirkvelia, Burca, Aliya Alyami — Collado, Pedraza, Tănase (Al Muwallad, 90), Godwin — Tawamba (Khodari, 90).
MORE: Messi vs Ronaldo 2024?MLS club announces Inter Miami vs. Al Nasr for Riyadh Season Cup
Ronaldo’s late brace inspired Al Nasr to victory on the return of the Saudi Professional League, with the Portuguese star now surpassing last season’s tally of 14 league goals this season 15.
Overnight, the championship gap with Al Hilal was reduced to one point!
https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1728139451509952829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
90 minutes: Four minutes of added time!
Ronaldo’s 15 league goals! He is breaking new ground in Saudi Arabia!
Vitor rushed off the line and swept through Al Nasr’s counterattack, but his clearance bounced to Ronaldo 35 yards out and he fired a brilliant shot!
https://twitter.com/SPL_EN/status/1728148426125091213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Just minutes after wasting a chance… Ronaldo scored his 14th Saudi Professional League goal of the 2023/24 season!
Vitor messed up Alex Telles’ cross deep into the penalty area, and Ronaldo steadied himself to shoot!
https://twitter.com/SPL_EN/status/1728153263613337953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Al Nasr’s captain has been quiet tonight but he fired from an angle from the edge of Al Ahdoud’s area and Vitor made a crucial save!
65 minutes: The visitors made more changes and will be confident of an equalizer if Nasr doesn’t double their lead.
58 minutes: Castro hopes to make three changes for Al Nasr with Brozovic, Abdelmadjid Sulayhim and Ayman Yahya coming on in the closing stages.
50 minutes: After the game restarted, Al Nasr took consecutive corner kicks, but the game was still tied 1-0.
https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1728127897112834363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
At halftime, Al Naji’s goal decided the outcome of the game, and Al Nasr’s goal was to win in the Saudi Professional League!
https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1728119776197644612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
40 minutes: Al Nassr relaxed a bit and they looked to take the lead.
Mohamed Al Fati appeared to handle the ball inside Al Nasr’s box but a penalty was denied after a quick VAR review. A huge relief to the owner!
28 minutes: Nasr began to put pressure on Akhdoud but they were yet to find a second goal to put distance between themselves and the visitors.
At the other end, Alex Collado fired from distance, but Raghed Al-Najjar repelled his effort.
23 minutes: Al-Nagy came within inches of a second goal, denied by a superb save from Paul Vittor.
The pressure from the organizers paid off! Sultan Al Ghanam did well to keep the loose ball in the Al Akhdoud box and his cutback was met by Sami Al-Najei !
https://twitter.com/SPL_EN/status/1728116333210914917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
10 minutes: It’s been a one-way game for Riyadh so far, with Ronaldo cutting inside on the edge of the area but his shot going wide of the post.
5 minutes: Al Nassr had a huge chance early but Talisca’s shot went over the bar!
https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1728111273320038770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Knockout in 10 minutes: Cristiano warms up for the return of the Saudi Professional League!
https://twitter.com/SPL_EN/status/1728106706918600922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Knockout in 30 minutes: Al Nasr is back in town!
https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1728099806432624681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Castro has chosen to rotate his side for next week’s match against Persepolis on the agenda, with Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic named as substitutes following their return from international duty.
https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1728097137714401550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Arrive at KO in 1 hour and 30 minutes: Sadio Mane celebrated his 100th cap for Senegal during the international break, with only Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye (106) making more appearances for Lions of Teranga More.
https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1727711315412603019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
2 hour knockdown: Welcome to Sporting News’ live coverage of Al Nassr’s Saudi Professional League match against Al Akhdoud in Riyadh.
alnasr are Back After the last international match of 2023, get moving!
https://twitter.com/AlNassrFC_EN/status/1728002528845914351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Castro has yet to confirm any injury concerns during the international break, with Ronaldo starting both of Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifying matches but Brozovic and Mane rested from the start.
Aymeric Laporte A foot injury has not yet healed, causing him to miss the Spanish team’s game.
Al Nasr lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Najjar (GK) – Alganam, Alamri, Fatil, Thales-Fofana, Najib-Ottavio, Talisca, Gharib-Ronaldo.
Al Nasr Substitute(9): Abdullah (goalkeeper), Madhu, Sulayhim, Mane, Malan, Hassan, Yahya, Brozovic, Rajami.
former barcelona midfielder Alex Corrado A key star for Al Ahdoud, the 24-year-old has become a vital player since joining on loan from Real Betis.
left back Hamid Al Mansour missed due to pause Awad Khamis Prepare to replace him.
Ahdoud lineup (5-4-1, right to left): Vito (GK) – Zabudani, Khamis, Kverkviglia, Burka, Aliyami-Corrado, Pedraza, Tanase, Godwin-Tawamba.
Substitute Akhdoud(9): Al-Adidi (GK), Al-Habib, Al-Rio, Al-Moouarad, Al-Hati, Al-Hatira, Al-Sheikh, Asili, Kodari, Al-Adidi.
The match between Al Nasr vs. Al Akhdoud of the Saudi Professional League kicked off at 9:00 pm local time at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh.
Here are the corresponding times, TV channels and live broadcasts to watch the game in various regions around the world
| date | tee time | television | stream media | |
| use | Friday, November 24 | 1 p.m. ET | Fox Football Plus | fubo |
| Canada | Friday, November 24 | 1 p.m. ET | — | Daznin |
| U.K. | Friday, November 24 | 6pm (BST) | — | Daznin |
| Australia | Saturday, November 25 | 5am AEST | — | 10 plays |
| India | Friday, November 24 | 11:30 PM (IST) | sony ten 1 | JioTV, Sony LIV |
| Hongkong | Saturday, November 25 | 2 a.m. Hong Kong time | — | TV on demand |
| Malaysia | Saturday, November 25 | 2 a.m. Malaysia time | — | TV on demand |
| Singapore | Saturday, November 25 | 2 a.m. (Singapore Standard Time) | — | TV on demand |
| New Zealand | Saturday, November 25 | 7am New Zealand Standard Time | — | Shahid |
Publishers Mindscape Developers P.F. Magic Release date 1998 Genre Simulation Game rating Description of the…
Editors Activision, Inc. Developers superego games Release date 2006 Gender Adventure Game Rating Game Description…
Editors Terraglyph Interactive Studios, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Developers Terraglifo interactive studios Release date nineteen…
Editors Sega, Digital Images, Screaming Villains, Limited Run Games Developers Digital Images, Inc. Release date…
Editors Davilex Games BV Developers Davilex Games BV Release date 1998 Gender Careers Game Rating…
Editors Sony Computer Entertainment, Disney Interactive Studios Developers High voltage software Release date 2002 Gender…