Al-Nassr edged previous Al-Taawoun with a slender 1-0 victory within the Saudi Professional League, a outcome that lifts Cristiano Ronaldo’s facet again into second place and cuts the hole to leaders Al-Hilal to 5 factors, Softfootball experiences.
The hosts set the tone early and thought that they had struck inside 5 minutes when Mohamed Simakan powered a header house from shut vary. VAR intervened, although, ruling the defender offside within the build-up. It was an early warning that Al-Taawoun struggled to heed, as Al-Nassr continued to use strain by means of Ronaldo, João Félix and Kingsley Coman.
Ronaldo went closest to breaking the impasse in open play throughout the opening exchanges, rattling the crossbar from inside the world after being picked out by Simakan. Al-Taawoun supplied little past sporadic set items and remoted counter-attacks, with Roger Martínez and Angelo Fulgini largely starved of service.
Al-Nassr’s dominance was lastly rewarded on the stroke of half-time. A harmful supply into the field prompted panic within the Al-Taawoun defence, and centre-back Mohammed Al Dossary inadvertently glanced the ball into his personal internet whereas making an attempt to clear.
The house facet might have gone into the break with a extra comfy benefit. Simakan once more threatened from a nook, whereas each Sadio Mané and Ronaldo pressured goalkeeper Mailson into good saves as Al-Taawoun struggled to deal with sustained strain. Mané’s inclusion was notably notable, because the Senegal worldwide returned to the beginning XI following his AFCON 2025 triumph with Senegal — his second continental title.
The sample of the sport barely modified after the restart. Al-Nassr managed possession and continued to carve out probabilities, with Coman energetic down the left flank. The winger examined Mailson twice in fast succession early within the second half, earlier than Mané struck the submit after a slick counter-attack involving Félix.
To their credit score, Al-Taawoun stayed in competition. Al Dossary headed extensive from a set piece, whereas Martínez tried his luck from distance, although with out troubling the Al-Nassr goalkeeper. Because the clock ticked down, the hosts pushed for a second aim to place the sport past doubt. Ronaldo noticed a number of efforts blocked or saved, together with a late try from a decent angle that Mailson handled comfortably, whereas Félix was denied in stoppage time after slicing inside and aiming low for the far nook.
After the sport ended, Al nassr shared by way of its official X deal with the official match report picture. They posted:
Ultimately, the solitary aim was sufficient. The win strikes Al-Nassr firmly into second place and trims the hole to Al-Hilal to 5 factors, a small measure of redemption after their earlier 3-1 league defeat to the champions.
