Postecoglou rubber-stamps his arrival in Saudi Pro League after spectacular victory over Al-Ettifaq

LONDON: Ange Postecoglou announced his arrival in the Saudi Pro League on Tuesday night in one of the most dramatic games you will see anywhere in 2026.

When the Australian substituted Cristiano Ronaldo at halftime with Al-Nassr two goals and one man down to Al-Ettifaq, it was not just the Portuguese megastar who was shaking his head.

Millions of fans around the world were doing the same and the instant online reaction was not positive toward the former Tottenham Hotspur boss.

Yet, at the end of a breathless 90-plus minutes, the champions had pulled off the most magnificent of comebacks to win 3-2, securing another victory and so much more.

Where to start? Perhaps the 12th minute red card to goalkeeper Bento that had the Yellows in all sorts of trouble. When Alvaro Medran scored a second for the hosts just before the break, it was surely game over. Postecoglou had other ideas, bringing on defensive midfielder Abdullah Al-Khaibari for Ronaldo.

The biggest star may have gone but there is plenty of other talent in the team and they stepped up. Joao Felix for one. With 16 minutes remaining, the Portuguese forward threaded a perfect pass through the green defence for Sadio Mane to finish. Then, three minutes later, Felix swung in a corner for Abdulelah Al-Amri to head home. It was all square.

Plenty of teams, plenty of coaches would settle for a point away with 10 men against solid opposition who had won both games in the season so far, but Al-Nassr and Postecoglou are different. In the 90th minute, Mane broke free once more and made no mistake.

Postecoglou wants to play his football on the front foot and in Dammam, the Aussie showed that he can walk the walk as well as talk the talk. It was a comeback for the ages.