Al Nassr 3-2 Al-Shabab: Ghareeb seals victory for hosts in a 5-goal thriller

Al-Nassr ended their three-game losing streak in the Saudi Pro League, after edging out 10-man Al-Shabab 3-2 on Saturday.

Match Report

Jorge Jesus' side were pegged back from 2-0 up at Al-Awwal Park, but Abdulrahman Ghareeb's first league goal of the season snatched all three points in the five-goal thriller.

Just two minutes had elapsed when Al Nassr broke the deadlock, as Saad Yaslam turned Joao Felix's low cross into his own net, while Kingsley Coman's spectacular overhead kick doubled the lead six minutes later.

The visitors reduced their arrears when Mohamed Simakan diverted Hamman Al Hammami's low centre beyond his own goalkeeper in the 31st minute, while Carlos Junior's neat finish from a Yannick Carrasco throughball levelled the contest on 53 minutes.

However, after Vincent Sierro was dismissed for a second bookable offence midway through the second half, Al Nassr capitalised on their numerical advantage with Ghareeb squeezing home the winner after Coman's initial effort was denied.

The hosts reclaimed second place on goal difference from Al Ahli, who edged out Al Kholood 1-0 earlier on Saturday.

Matthias Jaissle's side recorded their fifth straight win, as Ivan Toney's 11th goal of the season secured all three points at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

Data Debrief: Carrasco into double figures

Despite riding their luck at times, Al-Nassr were the deserved winners. They produced 1.5 expected goals (xG) from 14 shots to Al-Shabab's 0.61 from seven attempts.

Al Nassr have equalled their longest unbeaten streak against Al Shabab, having also avoided defeat in eight straight Pro League meetings between 2016 and 2020.

That was despite the best efforts of Carrasco, who recorded his 10th direct goal involvement in the division this season (seven goals, three assists).

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

2' OWN GOAL! Al Nassr FC 1-0 Al-Shabab FC (Saad Balobaid)

8' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 2-0 Al-Shabab FC (Kingsley Coman)

19' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Shabab FC

24' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Shabab FC

31' OWN GOAL! Al Nassr FC 2-1 Al-Shabab FC (Mohamed Simakan)

47' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Shabab FC

53' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 2-2 Al-Shabab FC (Carlos Júnior)

67' Red Card! Vincent Sierro sent off

74' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Shabab FC

76' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 3-2 Al-Shabab FC (Abdulrahman Ghareeb)

77' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Shabab FC

Line-ups

Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, I. Martinez, Coman, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Felix, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Mohamed Simakan, Bento, Nawaf Boushal, Ângelo, Wesley

Subs: Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Haroune Camara, Ali Al-Hassan, Nader Al-Sharari, Ayman Yahya, Mohammed Marran, Saad Al-Nasser, Salem Al Najdi, Mubarak Al-Buainain

Al-Shabab FC XI: Marcelo Grohe, Carrasco, Hoedt, Carlos Júnior, Brownhill, Vincent Sierro, Yacine Adli, Saad Balobaid, Mohamed Al-Thani, Unai Hernández, Hammam Al-Hammami

Subs: Nawaf Al-Saadi, Hussain Al-Sibyani, Faisal Al-Subiani, Ali Makki, Abdulaziz Abdul Rahma, Mohammed Al-Shwirekh, Abdulaziz Al-Othman, Majed Abdullah, Sultan Al-Anzi