Cristiano Ronaldo lifts Al Nassr over Al Ahli with penalty goal

Exciting Matches in the Roshn Saudi League

Riyadh: Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his scoring prowess once again in the Roshn Saudi League, converting a penalty to secure a crucial 1-0 victory for Al Nassr against Al Ahli. The match, held at King Abdullah Sports City, drew an impressive crowd of 52,037 fans eager to witness the clash between two of the Saudi Arabia Division 1’s top teams.

The first half was tightly contested, with both sides creating limited opportunities. Al Ahli came close when Riyad Mahrez delivered a corner for Merih Demiral, whose header hit the woodwork. Ronaldo thought he had scored just before halftime, but an offside call ruled out his effort.

In the second half, Al Ahli captain Roberto Firmino had a goal disallowed for offside before a reckless challenge from Roger Ibanez gifted Al Nassr a penalty. Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot, securing his 22nd goal of the season and maintaining his lead in the 2023-24 scoring charts.

Despite Al Ahli’s efforts to equalize, they failed to find the back of the net. Al Nassr goalkeeper David Ospina denied Franck Kessie and Fahad Al Rashidi late in the game. The win lifted Al Nassr to second place, now nine points ahead of third-placed Al Ahli, following their AFC Champions League exit.

In another match, Al Tai held Al Ettifaq to a 1-1 draw with Virgil Misidjan’s stunning strike cancelling out Karl Toko Ekambi’s opener for Al Ettifaq. Both teams had their chances in an entertaining encounter, with Misidjan’s goal ensuring Al Tai claimed a valuable point in their battle against relegation.

Moving on to Al Riyadh’s fixture against Al Fayha, Knowledge Musona’s goal salvaged a point for his side after Henry Onyekuru had given Al Fayha the lead. Musona’s strike equalized the scoreline, allowing Al Riyadh to secure a hard-earned point in a closely fought contest. The result sees Al Riyadh two points clear of the relegation zone, while Al Fayha sit in eighth place in the Saudi Arabia Division 1 standings.

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Zora Əhmədov

Zora Əhmədov, our dedicated statistician and lover of small leagues, is the analytical mind behind Asia.futbol's in-depth statistical analyses. Hailing from Azerbaijan, Zora's expertise lies in uncovering the hidden gems and untold stories within the lesser-known football leagues across Asia. With a sharp focus on numbers and an encyclopedic knowledge of the game, Zora's articles provide readers with a fresh perspective on the statistical side of Asian football.

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