Cristiano Ronaldo silences Al Ahli fans with penalty winner
Cristiano Ronaldo silenced the Al Ahli fans with a late penalty winner as Al Nassr claimed a narrow 1-0 victory in a heated top-of-the-table clash on Thursday.
The Portuguese superstar converted from the spot in the 68th minute to secure all three points for Al Nassr and reignite their title hopes.
The match was played at a high tempo with both teams creating chances but it was Ronaldo who stepped up to make the difference.
Al Nassr were awarded a penalty after Sami Al Najei was fouled inside the box. Ronaldo stepped up and coolly slotted the ball past Edouard Mendy to send the Al Nassr fans into raptures.
However, Ronaldo’s celebrations were cut short as he was met with a barrage of bottles and objects from the Al Ahli fans. The Portuguese superstar remained unfazed and continued his celebrations before being ushered away by his teammates.
Al Ahli fans continued to target Ronaldo and his teammates with missiles throughout the remainder of the match, adding an unsavory edge to an already tense encounter.
Despite the unsavory scenes, Al Nassr held on to secure a crucial victory. The win takes them back to second place in the table, two points behind leaders Al Ittihad.
Al Ahli, meanwhile, remain in third place, a further point behind.
Ronaldo’s penalty secures vital win for Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty secured a vital 1-0 win for Al Nassr against Al Ahli in a pulsating top-of-the-table clash on Thursday.
The Portuguese superstar scored the only goal of the game from the spot in the 68th minute to send Al Nassr back into second place in the table, two points behind leaders Al Ittihad.
Al Ahli, meanwhile, remained in third place, a further point behind.
The win was a vital one for Al Nassr, who had lost their last three games in all competitions.
It also marked a welcome return to form for Ronaldo, who had been struggling to find the back of the net in recent weeks.
The goal was Ronaldo’s 19th of the season in all competitions and his 15th in the league.
It was also his tenth penalty goal of the season, making him the top scorer from the spot in the Saudi Professional League.
Ronaldo’s goal was the difference between the two teams on the night and it was enough to secure all three points for Al Nassr.
The win puts Al Nassr back in the driving seat for the title and they will now be hoping to build on this victory in the coming weeks.
Ronaldo’s celebration met with hostility
Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebrations were met with hostility from Al Ahli fans after he scored the winning penalty in Thursday’s match.
The Portuguese superstar was targeted with a barrage of bottles and objects from the home fans after converting from the spot in the 68th minute.
Ronaldo remained unfazed by the incident and continued his celebrations before being ushered away by his teammates.
Al Ahli fans continued to target Ronaldo and his teammates with missiles throughout the remainder of the match, casting a shadow over the match.
The incident has been condemned by both Al Ahli and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
Al Ahli have been fined 200,000 Saudi riyals (£42,000) for the actions of their fans, while the club’s president, Turki Al-Sheik, has been banned from attending matches for a year.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has also launched an investigation into the incident and has promised to take strong action against those responsible.
