Al-Nassr overcame Al-Ahli 3-2 despite being down to 10 men as Jhon Duran continued his flying start to life in the Saudi Pro League.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Match Event for Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
6' Highlight from Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
13' Highlight from Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
21' Highlight from Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
25' Highlight from Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
32' GOAL! Al-Ahli SFC 0-1 Al Nassr FC (Jhon Durán)
42' Highlight from Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
43' Match Event for Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
44' Highlight from Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
44' Match Event for Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
47' Red Card! Mohamed Simakan sent off
47' Match Event for Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
69' Match Event for Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
75' Highlight from Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
76' Match Event for Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
78' GOAL! Al-Ahli SFC 1-1 Al Nassr FC (Ivan Toney)
80' GOAL! Al-Ahli SFC 1-2 Al Nassr FC (Ayman Yahya)
88' GOAL! Al-Ahli SFC 1-3 Al Nassr FC (Jhon Durán)
98' GOAL! Al-Ahli SFC 2-3 Al Nassr FC (Sumayhan Al-Nabit)
98' Highlight from Al-Ahli SFC vs Al Nassr FC
Match Reports
Duran netted twice on his league debut for Al-Nassr last week and repeated the trick at Al Inma Bank Stadium in an ill-tempered clash on Thursday.
The former Aston Villa forward hooked in a brilliant finish from the edge of the box to open the scoring in the 32nd minute.
Al-Ahli struck the woodwork on the stroke of half-time, but it was after the interval that the match sparked into chaos.
The hosts thought they had restored parity when Ali Majrashi flicked in from close range, yet after a long VAR check, the goal was disallowed.
However, Al-Nassr's Mohamed Simakan was sent off for elbowing Ivan Toney, who did then drag Al-Ahli level with a superb header in the 78th minute.
Yet two minutes later, Al-Nassr were back in front – Aiman Yahya slamming in at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved by Edouard Mendy.
Duran got his second in the 88th minute, coolly side-footing home on the counter, and that strike proved decisive when Sumayhan Al Nabit pulled one back deep in stoppage time.
Tempers flared between the sides at the final whistle, as Al-Nassr celebrated a victory that moved them to within five points of leaders Al-Ittihad.
Elsewhere, Al-Qadsiah beat Al-Shabab 3-2, moving temporarily into third prior to Al-Nassr's win.
Data Debrief: Thrills and spills
This was an exhilarating encounter that featured 30 shots, with 16 of those hitting the target – 10 from Al-Ahli and six from Al-Nassr.
Al-Ahli created chances worthy of 2.63 expected goals, while Al-Nassr's xG was 1.26, so the hosts can consider themselves unfortunate not to get something out of this one.
But in Duran, Al-Nassr have a potent finisher – he scored with both of his attempts on target. Cristiano Ronaldo, though, was quiet, having just one shot that generated only 0.05 xG.
Line-ups
Al-Ahli SFC XI: Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Ivan Toney, Kessie, Abdullah Al-Ammar, Demiral, Galeno, Ibanez, Ali Majrashi, Gabri Veiga, Ziyad Al-Johani
Subs: Firas Al-Buraikan, Fahad Al-Rashidi, Sumayhan Al-Nabit, Mohammed Al-Majhad, Rayan Hamed, Mohammed Sulaiman Bakor, Abdulrahman Al Sanbi, Eid Al-Muwallad, Abdulkarim Darisi
Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Brozovic, Laporte, Mane, Otávio, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Mohamed Simakan, Jhon Durán, Bento, Salem Al Najdi
Subs: Mohammed Al-Fatil, Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhim, Ali Lajami, Raghed Al-Najjar, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Ali Al-Hassan, Ayman Yahya, Mohammed Marran, Majed Qasheesh
shakx3m
72
Nobody will talk about Ronaldo sacrificing his game time and a potential goal opportunity for the sake of the team today. Al Nassr went down to 10 men and the coach was taking a defender off and Ronaldo told the Fullback to stay on the pitch and told Duran to get the job done. Indeed Duran delivered once more.
sandafoxiry7
48
Finally the burden is off Ronaldo, which means he's going to score even more goals.