Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his brilliance once again, scoring twice to propel Al Nassr to a 3-1 triumph over rivals Al Hilal in a thrilling Saudi Pro League encounter on Friday.
Al Nassr remains in third place with 54 points, closing the gap to just three points behind second-placed Al Hilal and seven points adrift of league leaders Al Ittihad, who are set to face Al Ahli on Saturday.
The match sprang to life when Ali Al Hassan opened the scoring before halftime, curling a magnificent shot past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Just two minutes into the second half, Ronaldo doubled the lead with a precise finish after a clever pass from Sadio Mané.
Refusing to back down, reigning champions Al Hilal fought back, reducing the deficit in the 62nd minute with Ali Al Bulayhi’s close-range header from a corner kick. However, Ronaldo sealed the victory for Al Nassr with a confidently taken penalty in the 88th minute, awarded for a handball by substitute Muteb Al Harbi after a VAR review.
“The team effort was crucial to this win,” Ronaldo said post-match. “Me scoring is important, but it’s more important to win. I work hard to help the team in the league and the AFC Champions League, and don’t concentrate on individual records.”
