Ronaldo firebolt seals crucial 2-1 win for Al-Nassr in Roshn SPL title race

RIYADH: On Saturday night in Riyadh Cristiano Ronaldo punched the air with delight when the full time whistle sounded and all of Mrsool Park celebrated with him.

If Al-Nassr do end up lifting the Roshn Saudi League trophy this season, they will look back at this game, and especially Ronaldo’s late free-kick as a crucial moment.

That goal, his ninth in nine games since his January debut, sparked a crucial 2-1 win over Abha to keep Al-Nassr’s title challenge on track.

Ronaldooooooo pic.twitter.com/x8TnKXWbxF

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) March 18, 2023

With 12 minutes remaining, the hosts were a goal down and running out of ideas. With leaders Al-Ittihad picking up an impressive 5-1 win at sixth place Al-Fateh earlier in the day to go four points clear at the top, the pressure was on Al-Nassr to get the victory. Now they are just a point behind with nine to play. 

It was a tough game however. The former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus man got another taste of just how competitive Saudi Arabian football is after a gruelling 100 minutes plus of action.

Just four days after his Al-Nassr team defeated the same opposition 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup, they found the league version of Abha a much harder nut to crack.

On Tuesday, Al-Nassr were ahead after ten seconds and were never in danger of losing but that was not the case on Saturday as they struggled to break down the southwesterners.

They received a warning after just five minutes after the visitors had a goal ruled out by VAR.

Goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi could only parry a Saad Bguir free-kick and while Amine Atouchi reacted quickly to fire home the rebound, the Moroccan was adjudged to have been just offside.

Ronaldo had his first real