It was a desperate game to win for Al-Nassr, as they hosted a struggling Al-Shabab at the Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.
The Knights were running away with the RSL just a few days ago, but then, suddenly out of nowhere, ran into a terrible loss of form, losing 3 games in a row and drawing one. The top seat was gone, and the struggle to keep holding on to the 2nd position was heating up. A win was a must, and Al-Nassr started positively last night.
A brilliant move between Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix resulted in an own goal from Al-Shabab in the 5th minute. Saad Yaslam, in a bid to stop the cross from Felix to Ronaldo, pushed the ball inside his own net. The Knights of Najd were up and running.
Three minutes later, the hardworking Kingsley Coman produced an incredible moment with a terrific bicycle kick. It was perfectly executed. The ball had power and direction as it beat the goalkeeper and entered the net. It was magical from Coman, just like Ronaldo, his decorated teammate. With 2 goals ahead, the match was heading Al-Nassr’s way, but then Al-Shabab woke up, and Al-Nassr went to sleep.
Yannick Carrasco, the Belgian forward of Al-Shabab and Brazilian Carlos took up the mantle for Al-Shabab and staged a tremendous fight back. They were helped by some loose defending, allowing acres of space for both forwards. Al-Nassr’s two-goal advantage was under threat, and in the 31st minute, the constant pressure from Al-Shabab resulted in an own goal from Al-Nassr through Simikan.
In the second half, too, Carrasco set up Carlos in a spectacular move. The Al-Nassr defenders were found wanting as Carlos sped past them and scored with a lovely flourish to get the match on an even keel. It was 2 all and Al-Nassr were looking jittery and vulnerable.
The match, however, took another turn when Vincent Sierro, the Swiss footballer, got a second booking of the match, resulting in a red card. Al-Shabab were reduced to 10 men.
The Red card pushed back the visitors as Al-Nassr regained momentum and eventually scored, with Abdulrahman Ghareeb managing to put the ball in the net through several deflections.
Al-Nassr somehow managed to secure the lead and went on to record their 11th victory in the RSL, their first after a series of three losses.
The Al-Nassr fans eventually had something to cheer as Jorge Jesus had relief on his face after a vital 3 points were salvaged from the game.
Al-Nassr have a critical match-up against Al-Taawoun next Monday, but then they will be bolstered by the return of Sadio Mane.
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