In a thrilling match on Thursday evening, Cristiano Ronaldo helped lead Al-Nassr to a 2-1 victory over Al-Raed in the 18th round of the Saudi Roshen Professional League. Ronaldo’s first-half goal, followed by Nawaf Boushal’s second-half strike, ensured Al-Nassr claimed all three points, pushing them to third place in the standings with 38 points.
Early Pressure and Ronaldo’s First-Half Impact
Al-Nassr started the match with aggressive pressure, and Cristiano Ronaldo immediately threatened the Al-Raed goal in the fifth minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area, only to be denied by the goalkeeper. Ronaldo continued to create opportunities, with a powerful shot blocked in the 29th minute, and his header in the 45+9 minute going wide of the goal.
However, in the 35th minute, Ronaldo scored for Al-Nassr, capitalizing on a perfect cross from Marcelo Brozovic inside the penalty area. Ronaldo calmly converted with one touch, putting Al-Nassr 1-0 ahead.
Boushal Extends the Lead in the Second Half
The second half began with a quick goal from Al-Nassr in the 47th minute. Ronaldo played a key role again, providing a crucial pass to Nawaf Boushal, who confidently struck the ball into the net to make it 2-0. Al-Nassr appeared to be in control, but Al-Raed responded in the 76th minute with a stunning shot from Amir Sayoud, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Late Drama and Near Equalizer for Al-Raed
Al-Raed almost found the equalizer in the final minutes of the game. In the 81st minute, Saleh Al-Omari fired a shot from inside the penalty area that narrowly missed the goal. Al-Nassr also had chances to extend their lead, with Ayman Yahya testing the Al-Raed goalkeeper in the 90+5 minute and Ali Al-Hassan shooting just over the goal in the 90+8 minute.
In a dramatic finish, Yasry Bouzouk of Al-Raed had a chance to score in the 90+12 minute but was thwarted by Al-Nassr’s defender Mohammed Simakan, who made a crucial intervention.
The victory brought Al-Nassr up to 38 points, solidifying their place in third, while Al-Raed remains in 15th place with just 14 points. Despite a few missed opportunities, Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance was pivotal in ensuring Al-Nassr claimed the win, continuing their push for the top spots in the Saudi Roshen Professional League.
