Al-Nassr's new-look strike partnership struck gold as Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo propelled them to a 3-0 Saudi Pro League win over Al-Fayha.
2024/2025 Saudi Professional League
3-0
Making his Saudi Pro League debut a week on from his big-money move from Aston Villa, Duran was at the double before Ronaldo applied further gloss to a routine victory for Stefano Pioli's team with his first goal as a 40-year-old.
Duran opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, pouncing on a loose ball, charging into the box and hooking a cool left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner.
Sadio Mane and Ronaldo saw presentable chances go begging in the second half, with the latter heading over and drilling just wide as Al-Nassr searched to put the result beyond doubt, having also had a goal disallowed when Duran drifted offside.
But Al-Nassr's pressure duly told in the 72nd minute, when Mane sent a left-wing cross to the far post, where Duran was on hand to cushion an improvised finish over Orlando Mosquera.
Ronaldo got in on the act two minutes later, arrowing in a crisp first-time strike from Nawaf Bu Washl's pass across the area.
Al-Fayha's misery seemed to have been compounded deep in second-half stoppage time when goalkeeper Mosquera was sent off for a deliberate handball, but a VAR check showed he was clearly in the box when he made a save to deny Abdulrahman Ghareeb.
Al-Nassr moved into third place, though they are eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
Match Events
22' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 1-0 Al Fayha (Jhon Durán)
72' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 2-0 Al Fayha (Jhon Durán)
74' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 3-0 Al Fayha (Cristiano Ronaldo)
Line-ups
Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Brozovic, Laporte, Mane, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Ali Lajami, Jhon Durán, Bento, Nawaf Al-Boushal, Ângelo, Salem Al Najdi
Subs: Mohammed Al-Fatil, Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhim, Ahmad Al-Harbi, Raghed Al-Najjar, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Mohammed Marran, Majed Qasheesh
Al Fayha XI: Smalling, Alejandro Pozuelo, Renzo López, Orlando Mosquera, Otabek Shukurov, Mohammed Al-Baqawi, Ziyad Al-Sahafi, Fashion Sakala, Makhir Al-Rashidi, Mansor Al-Beshe, Faris Abdi
Subs: Abdulhadi Al-Harajin, Nawaf Al-Harthi, Malek Al-Abdulmenem, Rangel, Gabriel Vareta, Sattam Al-Roqi, Abdulraouf Al-Duqayl, Mohammed Al-Dowaish, Ali Al-Hussain