Ronaldo ‘special’ sends Al-Nassr third

RIYADH: Al-Nassr fans displayed a “GOAT 7” tifo after a Cristiano Ronaldo “special” gave their team a vital 2-1 win at home to Damac on Saturday to go into third place in the Roshn Saudi League.

It had been looking gloomy as the Riyadh giants were a goal down at the break, but two goals in quick succession early in the second half, with Ronaldo scoring a spectacular free-kick to put his team in front, resulted in a victory that was celebrated wildly by the home fans.

Acknowledgment pic.twitter.com/XJNhfG9dCo

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) October 21, 2023

While Damac had started the season slowly, they were looking for a third successive league win. Al-Nassr, meanwhile, wanted to return to winning ways after the 2-2 draw with Abha last time around ended a run of six successive league victories.

But this was always going to be a tough task. Coach Luis Castro was without Nawaf Al-Aqidi in goal and center-back Ali Lajami. Both picked up injuries while on international duty for Saudi Arabia, while Marcelo Brozovic did the same with Croatia and Sultan Al-Ghannam was suspended. 

Ronaldo, who played his 200th game for Portugal during the international break, was there, of course, and it took him just five minutes to put the ball in the net as he controlled a free-kick from deep deftly and then shot home, but he was adjudged to have been offside. It was a sign that the league’s leading goalscorer was in the mood.

The game settled down with Abdullah Al-Khaibari forcing a save from Moustapha Zeghba with a shot from outside the area as the visiting defense backed off.

Then Damac were in front with a perfect counter-attacking goal on the stroke of half-time. Nicolae Stanciu picked up the ball deep inside his own half, though