Al-Nassr secured a dramatic 3-2 victory against Al-Ettifaq in their midweek Saudi Pro League clash, mounting an impressive comeback despite being reduced to ten men early in the match. The win marks the club’s third consecutive victory in as many league games this season.
The match took a difficult turn for the Knights of Najd just 13 minutes in when goalkeeper Bento was shown a red card for a foul. Al-Ettifaq capitalized on the numerical advantage, with Ondrej Duda scoring in the 31st minute. Alvaro Medran extended the lead to 2-0 during first-half stoppage time, finding the net after his shot slipped through the gloves of 18-year-old substitute keeper Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi.
Cristiano Ronaldo, making his first start of the 2026-27 season under manager Ange Postecoglou, struggled to influence the game during his 45 minutes on the pitch. The 41-year-old recorded only seven touches and three completed passes before being substituted at halftime, leaving the field visibly frustrated as his team trailed by two goals.
The second half saw a complete shift in momentum, driven largely by Sadio Mane. The former Liverpool forward sparked the comeback in the 74th minute, and Abdulelah Al-Amri quickly leveled the score just three minutes later. Mane then completed the turnaround in the 90th minute, netting his second goal of the night to seal the win.
Following the match, fans took to social media to praise Mane’s decisive performance. Supporters lauded the Senegal international for his ability to carry the team in high-pressure situations, with many contrasting his impact with that of Ronaldo. While some fans criticized the veteran forward for his lack of contribution, others celebrated the resilience shown by the squad in his absence.
This result keeps Al-Nassr’s momentum alive as they maintain their perfect record in the current campaign. Despite the early setback and the defensive challenges posed by the red card, the team’s late offensive surge proved sufficient to overcome their opponents in Dammam. The report also notes that carrying this Al-Nassr team as always” – Fans hail Cristiano Ronaldo’s mate as they complete comeback win despite playing with 10 men. The report also notes that cristiano Ronaldo made his first start of the season for Ange Postecoglou’s side as they sought to extend their 100% record since the start of the campaign. The report also notes that the 41-year-old was on target in their 4-0 win over Al-Riyadh last time out in what was his first game of the season. The report also notes that accusing him of holding the team back, one fan took a swipe at Cristiano Ronaldo. The report also notes that he touched the ball just seven times and was visibly furious and frustrated as he headed into the dressing room after the half-time whistle with his side 2-0 down.
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