Cristiano Ronaldo netted a brace in the second half, including a penalty, to propel Al Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al Hilal in the battle for the Saudi Pro League title on Friday night.
Al Nassr currently holds third place with 54 points, now sitting three points adrift of second-placed Al Hilal and seven points behind leaders Al Ittihad, who are scheduled to take on Al Ahli on Saturday.
The scoring commenced for Al Nassr just before half-time, with Ali Al Hassan finding the back of the net with a well-placed shot past goalkeeper Yassin Bono.
Two minutes into the second half, Ronaldo doubled the lead with a precise finish following a clever assist from Sadio Mane.
Despite being the reigning champions, Al Hilal sought to claw back into the contest, managing to narrow the gap in the 62nd minute when Ali Al Bulayhi headed home from close range after a corner kick.
However, Ronaldo sealed the victory for Al Nassr with a penalty in the 88th minute, awarded after a handball by substitute Mouteb Al-Harbi was confirmed by a VAR check.
“The team’s effort was vital for this victory; while my goals matter, securing the win is what counts most,” Ronaldo stated to SSC.
“I put in the effort to support the team in both the SPL and the Champions League, without fixating on personal achievements,” he added.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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