Before the match between Al Nassr and Damac took place, Ronaldo was in extremely good form. In the last 5 matches, the Portuguese player contributed 6 goals, 1 assist. In the middle of the week, Ronaldo also shone brightly with a double, helping Al Nassr defeat Al Gharafa (Qatar) 3-1. However, Ronaldo's form could not help Al Nassr gain an advantage in the Saudi Pro League. Coach Pioli's team is 8 points behind the leading team Al Ittihad and if they cannot beat Damac, Al Nassr will be left far behind in the race for the championship after round 12.
Notably, opponent Damac is one of Ronaldo's favorite "prey". Since arriving in Saudi Arabia in early 2023, Ronaldo has faced this team 3 times and scored 4 goals, helping Al Nassr win all 3 matches. Notably, in the first match against Damac, he also scored a hat-trick (round 18 of the Saudi Pro League 2022 - 2023). Therefore, a few hours before the match started, Damac coach Cosmin Contra admitted that Ronaldo was the biggest threat to his team.
Damac is Ronaldo's favorite opponent (number 7)
As coach Cosmin Contra had feared, Ronaldo continued to be a “nightmare” for Damac in the first half. Al Nassr’s captain played brilliantly on the pitch, receiving a 7.6 rating from Squawka – the highest in the half. Compared to recent matches, Ronaldo often moved back to the midfield, giving Al Nassr’s wings space to advance. Not only that, in the 17th minute, Ronaldo himself successfully executed a penalty kick, helping Al Nassr take a 1-0 lead.
In contrast to Ronaldo, his teammates played ineffectively in the first half. Sadio Mané and Ângelo Gabriel played behind Ronaldo, had a lot of space but continuously wasted opportunities. Sadio Mané was the player who left a big disappointment when he missed 2 golden opportunities to double the match gap. Meanwhile, Al Nassr's defense still could not bring peace of mind due to the absence of important player Laporte. At the end of the first half, Damac rose up, had 4 dangerous shots. Fortunately for Al Nassr, goalkeeper Bento played focused, keeping the net safe in the first half.
Ronaldo successfully executed the penalty, helping Al Nassr take the lead against Damac
The second half continued to witness Ronaldo's classy performance. The 39-year-old played energetically, with three more dangerous shots. In the 79th minute, Ronaldo kicked the ball accurately with his left foot, completing his double to help Al Nassr lead 2-0.
Notably, after both goals in this match, Ronaldo had a special celebration gesture. Instead of performing the usual “Siu” gesture, Ronaldo put his hand on his chest and then sent a kiss to the stands, where his mother was watching her son play.
Ronaldo celebrates for his mother in the stands
Ronaldo's brilliance also boosted the confidence of Al Nassr's players. Coach Pioli's team dominated the second half, holding the ball 70% of the time and taking 12 more shots. Unfortunately, Al Nassr's forwards squandered their chances and failed to score any more goals in the remaining time.
Winning 2-0 against Damac, Al Nassr has 25 points after 12 matches, 5 points behind the leading team Al Ittihad (Al Ittihad still has 1 match left to play). After this match, Al Nassr will continue to play at home, meeting Al Sadd in the 6th round of the AFC Champions League (December 3).
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ronaldo-ghi-cu-dup-giup-al-nassr-thoat-hiemgui-nu-hon-cho-me-thay-vi-siu-185241129235117494.htm
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