Cristiano Ronaldo found the net, and Joao Felix dazzled as Al Nasr clinched their fourth straight Saudi Pro League title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Al Khoroud.
Jorge Jesus’s team closed the gap to league leaders Al Hilal to just three points, largely thanks to the contributions of the Portuguese pair. Ronaldo opened the scoring from close range, followed by Mohamed Simakan assisting Felix’s corner that Kingsley Coman converted into a penalty, solidifying their win.
Al Nasr Triumphs in SPL, Fueling Title Hopes
Al Nasr set the tone early at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, with Felix and Sadio Mane creating numerous opportunities; Mane even scored just two minutes in. Felix again displayed his abilities following Iñigo Martínez’s long ball, with Ronaldo’s on-target shot narrowly cleared off the line by the young Mansour Camara.
Ronaldo miscalculated his jump on the next chance, but opportunities kept coming. As the first half went on, the home side became more competitive, yet Al Nasr continued to create significant threats. Mane’s flick from Felix’s header just grazed the post, while Simakan’s powerful header was expertly saved by Al Khoroud goalkeeper Juan Pablo Cozzani.
Despite Al Khoroud’s best efforts, which included a remarkable block from John Buckley on a shot from Ronaldo, they went into halftime without scoring. Their concerns were compounded when Mane’s goal was disallowed due to Felix’s narrow offside position during the buildup.
Al Nasr wasted no time asserting control in the second half; mere minutes after the restart, Ronaldo capitalized on Felix’s clever positioning to score into an open net, marking his 17th goal of the season and the 961st of his illustrious career while pulling closer to top scorer Ivan Toney.
Following Ronaldo’s goal, Felix played a pivotal role again, assisting Simakan for the second goal. After that, it was clear that Al Nasr would dominate, with the home team unable to respond. The situation worsened for Al Khoroud when VAR led to the sending off of captain Hatan Babri for a careless elbow on Simakan.
In the closing moments, a foul by Ramzi Solan on Coman resulted in a penalty, with Coman calmly converting it past Cozzani to finalize Al Nasr’s commanding triumph.
MVP
While Felix didn’t score, he was crucial to Al Nasr’s play, assisting both Ronaldo and Simakan and creating numerous other opportunities. His performance was a standout, especially when he nearly set up Mane after a skillful run behind the defense.
He was a constant threat, and his excitement was palpable, especially when a bold shot sailed over the bar late in the match, perfectly encapsulating Al Nasr’s dominant win.
Big Loser
Although Al Khoroud showed moments of quality, the gulf in skill between them and Al Nasr was evident, particularly in their defense against the likes of Ronaldo and Felix. The night’s biggest setback was captain Babri, whose reckless elbowing of Simakan will likely result in a suspension, negatively impacting the team’s prospects in the coming weeks.
Match Rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐
Fan Take: This thrilling match underscores Al Nasr’s growing dominance in the Saudi Pro League, notably with legends like Ronaldo in fine form. For soccer fans, it highlights not only the fierce competition in the league but also serves as a reminder of the enduring impact football greats can have even in new environments.
