Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty and a brace from Sadio Mane powered Al-Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al-Okhdood on Thursday, January 10, 2025, marking the resumption of the Saudi Pro League after a month-long break.
The match got off to a dramatic start as Al-Okhdood took an early lead through Saviour Godwin in the 10th minute. However, Al-Nassr responded swiftly, with Mane, the former Liverpool forward, equalizing in the 29th minute after a well-timed finish.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s, who joined Al-Nassr two years ago, then made his mark just before halftime. The 39-year-old forward was awarded a penalty three minutes before the break after a foul inside the box. Ronaldo stepped up and confidently slotted home, giving the Riyadh-based club a 2-1 lead going into the second half.
The Portuguese star, who was the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League last season, is now just one goal behind Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic in the current top scorer race. Ronaldo’s performance continued to highlight his importance to Al-Nassr’s attacking play as they chase the league title.
Mane wrapped up the victory in the 88th minute, securing his second goal of the match and sealing a 3-1 win for Al-Nassr. The win lifted them to third place in the Saudi Pro League standings, six points behind Al-Hilal and eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
Al-Nassr’s solid performance against Al-Okhdood sets them up for a strong push in the league as the season progresses.
