RIYADH: For the first time since arriving in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr team were in a must-win situation on Friday and when the pressure was on, he and his team delivered with a 4-0 victory over Al-Raed at Mrsool Park.
The result means that the Yellows are, once again, three points behind leaders Al-Ittihad and still in the running for league title number ten.
It may not have been a vintage performance from Al-Nassr but after a goalless draw at Al-Fayha and a 2-0 defeat against Al-Hilal in the last two league games (as well as a surprising King’s Cup semi-final elimination at the hands of Al-Wehda on Monday) it was welcome return to winning ways and, in the end, a very comfortable one.
A third successive failure to win would have been a major blow to any championship hopes. A day earlier, Al-Ittihad defeated third-placed Al-Shabab thanks to a late, late penalty to go six clear and all knew that had Al-Nassr failed to match that result then the Roshn Saudi League trophy would have moved even closer to Jeddah.