Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal Star Scores and Assists as Al-Nassr See Off Al-Raed

Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal Star Scores and Assists as Al-Nassr See Off Al-Raed

  • Al-Nassr secured a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Al-Raed, with Cristiano Ronaldo stealing the spotlight
  • The Portuguese star scored and assisted, proving instrumental in his team’s win on Thursday evening
  • With 15 league goals, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner remains the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League

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Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a stellar performance, scoring and assisting as Al-Nassr secured a 2-1 victory over Al-Raed in the Saudi Pro League.

The win keeps Al-Nassr in pursuit of league leaders Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad as they continue their title chase.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores and assists as Al-Nassr see off Al-Raed
Al-Nassr secured a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Al-Raed, with Cristiano Ronaldo stealing the spotlight. Photo: Yasser Bakhsh.
Source: Getty Images

From the first whistle, Al-Nassr dominated possession, consistently threatening Al-Raed’s defence.

Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Otavio looked sharp in attack, with Otavio hitting the woodwork in the 26th minute, per Goal.

Mane also came close to scoring from a Marcelo Brozovic corner but missed by inches.

The breakthrough finally came in the 35th minute when Ronaldo got a slight touch on a well-delivered Brozovic free-kick to put his side ahead.

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The second half started just as strong for Al-Nassr, and within minutes, they doubled their lead.

Ronaldo set up Nawaf Boushal, who finished expertly past Meshari Abdulaziz Sunyur to make it 2-0.

Despite multiple chances, Mane struggled in front of goal, missing several opportunities to extend the lead.

Against the run of play, Al-Raed pulled one back in the 76th minute through Amir Sayoud, who showcased brilliant close control before curling a superb shot into the top-right corner.

This goal sparked a late surge from Al-Raed, but Al-Nassr’s defence, led by Mohamed Simakan, held firm to secure the win.

Ronaldo, once again, was the star of the show, easing his team’s nerves with a goal and an assist.

What's next for Al-Nassr?

This victory marks Al-Nassr’s third consecutive win, keeping them five points behind the league leaders, albeit with an extra game played.

They will look to continue their momentum when they host Al-Feiha on February 7. Before that, they have an AFC Champions League fixture against Al-Wasl on February 3.

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Al-Nassr celebrate Ronaldo with emotional video

YEN.com.gh also revealed that Al Nassr released an emotional video to mark Cristiano Ronaldo's two-year milestone with the team.

The Portuguese star unexpectedly switched to the Saudi club in the summer of 2023 after a turbulent exit from Manchester United, which stemmed from a rift with former boss Erik ten Hag.

Despite his impressive form in the league, the 39-year-old's long-term plans remain unclear.

Ronaldo handles 'Messi' taunts with maturity

Earlier, YEN.com.gh highlighted an incident where rival supporters attempted to unsettle Cristiano Ronaldo by chanting Lionel Messi's name.

However, the Portuguese superstar displayed remarkable composure in Al-Nassr's encounter with Al Taawoun.

Despite handling the mind games with poise, the game itself dealt yet another setback to Al-Nassr's struggling league aspirations.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Isaac Darko avatar

Isaac Darko (Sports Editor) Isaac Darko is a Sports Editor at Yen, boasting over 10 years of experience in the media industry. He has produced award-winning TV shows such as "Football 360" and "Sports XTRA" on ViaSat 1/Kwese TV. Isaac began his career as an Assistant Producer at TV3 Ghana Limited (Media General) and also contributed as a Writer and Weekend Editor for Pulse Ghana. He earned his bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (now University of Media, Arts and Communication). Email: isaac.darko@sportsbrief.com.

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