It wasn’t the brightest of starts for Cristiano Ronaldo in the clash between Al-Nassr and Al-Khaleej. Despite getting several chances to score, the Portuguese star couldn’t find the net — including a missed penalty that struck the post. But fortune favored Ronaldo and his team, as the early miss didn’t cost them.
Deep into stoppage time, Al-Nassr earned another penalty — and this time, Ronaldo made no mistake. With composure and experience, the 40-year-old sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and calmly slotted the ball into the net, securing a crucial win for his side.
After the match, Ronaldo expressed relief in a social media post, saying, “One of those nights… when the ball just didn’t want to go in… until it finally did!”
Managed by Stefano Pioli, Al-Nassr are fighting hard to qualify for the Asian Champions League Elite competition, especially after missing out on the league title to Al-Ittihad. Earlier in the match, Jhon Durán had put the hosts ahead, and Ronaldo’s late goal sealed a 2–0 victory.
Up next, Al-Nassr face Al-Fateh in their final Saudi Pro League match. A win is essential, but that alone won’t be enough to secure Champions League qualification. Al-Qadsiah must also drop points against Al-Hilal for Al-Nassr’s hopes to stay alive.
UA / TDS
