Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first goal of the year after converting penalty for Al-Nassr - as Sadio Mane bags a brace to wrap up 3-1 victory for Saudi giants
2024/2025 Saudi Professional League
3-1
Match Report
Sadio Mane scored twice to seal a much-needed victory for Al-Nassr, as they came from a goal down to beat Al-Okhdood 3-1 at Al-Awwal Park on Thursday.
After defeat to league leaders Al-Ittihad in their last Saudi Pro League encounter, Al-Nassr responded with a dominant display to move up to third in the standings.
Al-Okhdood took a surprise lead in the sixth minute when Christian Bassogog's cross was poorly dealt with, allowing Saviour Godwin to prod the ball home from close range.
Mane restored parity soon after when Sultan Al Ghannam saw his header brilliantly saved by Paulo Vitor, only for the Senegalese to slide the ball home on the line.
The hosts went in front four minutes before the break when Damion Lowe fouled Mane in the box, with Cristiano Ronaldo stepping up to convert the spot-kick.
Al-Nassr continued to dominate after the interval but were unable to grab the third goal, with Otavio, Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Angelo unable to test visiting goalkeeper Vitor.
But their perseverance prevailed late on when Al Ghannam's pinpoint delivery was headed into the bottom right corner by Mane for his fifth league goal of the season.
The veteran forward, 39, and his teammates enjoyed a winter break from the Saudi Pro League, as they look to close ground on league leaders Al Ittihad.
And it only took 42 minutes of his first match after the break for the former Real Madrid and Man United forward to find the back of the net.
Al Akhdoud took the lead in the sixth minute of the match before Al-Nassr responded through former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane - who would later score again.
After Mane's equaliser, Al-Nassr were awarded a penalty and Ronaldo stepped up to dispatch of it and give his side the lead on the night.
The 39-year-old blasted his effort into the top-right corner of the goal before wheeling away in celebration with his teammates.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
6' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 0-1 Al-Okhdood (Saviour Godwin)
8' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
16' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
19' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
23' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
29' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 1-1 Al-Okhdood (Sadio Mané)
42' Penalty Goal! Al Nassr FC 2-1 Al-Okhdood (Cristiano Ronaldo)
45' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
52' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
53' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
56' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
67' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
69' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
73' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
78' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
80' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
83' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
86' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al-Okhdood
88' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 3-1 Al-Okhdood (Sadio Mané)
Line-ups
Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Laporte, Mane, Otávio, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Ali Al-Hassan, Mohamed Simakan, Bento, Nawaf Al-Boushal, Ângelo
Subs: Mohammed Al-Fatil, Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhim, Mukhtar Ali, Ali Lajami, Raghed Al-Najjar, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Mohammed Marran, Salem Al Najdi, Majed Qasheesh
Al-Okhdood XI: Petros, Awadh Khamis, Paulo Vítor, Damion Lowe, Saviour Godwin, Christian Bassogog, Mohanad Al-Qaydhi, Diego Ferreira, Naif Asiri, Eid Al-Muwallad, Hussain Al-Zabdani
Subs: Knowledge Musona, Rakan Al-Najjar, Saleh Al-Abbas, Saleh Al-Harthi, Mohammed Al-Jahif, Abdulaziz Al-Hatila, Saud Salem, Saad Al-Qarni, Ghassan Hawsawi