Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo's first goals of 2025 gave Al-Nassr an unconvincing 3-1 win at home to Al-Ukhdood as the two teams returned to action after the winter break in the Saudi Professional League.
The visitors started 13 points ahead of their opponents and two points from safety, and the visitors took advantage of disastrous defending to take the lead in the sixth minute through Nigerian winger Savior Goodwin at Al Awal Stadium in Riyadh.
The first SIUUU of 2025 🐐#Roshen_Saudi_League pic.twitter.com/JKWcQvXJMM
– Saudi Roshan League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
The former Bayern Munich and Liverpool striker equalized for Mane in the 29th minute after Sultan Al-Ghannam headed in a goal-line stalemate, and Ronaldo then put Al-Nassr ahead with a penalty kick 13 minutes later after a foul on the Senegal icon by Jamaican defender Damion Lowe. .
Mane met Al-Ghanem's cross from the right side with a wonderful header to achieve the victory two minutes before the end of the second half, in which the underdogs sought to achieve an equaliser.
The result ended Al-Nasr's run of two consecutive defeats in all competitions and raised it to third place, eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad and six points behind Al-Hilal, both of whom have a game more to play.
The number 1️⃣ in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ for CR7️⃣ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#Roshen_Saudi_League pic.twitter.com/IKA1v0ZY4B
– Saudi Roshan League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
Victory returns to the ways of victories
The win was extremely important for Al-Nassr following their 2-1 defeat to Al-Ittihad on December 6, but this was another uncomfortable evening for one of the most well-resourced clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Having finished just above the relegation zone last season, there was more encouragement for their Najran rivals, who kept the game in the balance until Mane's second goal.
He can score with his feet, but he can also score with his head: Sadio Mane 🦁🇸🇳#Roshen_Saudi_League pic.twitter.com/ZNCzW70adj
– Saudi Roshan League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
Former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte was one of the players responsible for the opening goal, and the Spain international was perhaps lucky to remain on the field shortly afterwards, when he appeared to attack Godwin.
Two-time African Footballer of the Year Mane had a goal disallowed by VAR, and Ronaldo was denied by goalkeeper Paulo Vitor after he was offside just before half-time.
That's 6⃣0⃣ goals in 6⃣0⃣ #Roshen_Saudi_League Games for 🐐 pic.twitter.com/0rHT8yZX02
– Saudi Roshan League (@SPL_EN) January 9, 2025
Victory table
With Al-Hilal departing for 13th-placed Al-Orouba, and Al-Ittihad visiting second-placed Al-Fayhaa on Saturday, Al-Nasr's chances of making gains in the top two this week are slim – but they cannot afford to drop further. Points if they want to have any chance of a late title push.
Mane's first goals in eight caps and international matches were welcome, as was Ronaldo's fifth goal in four league matches, putting him one goal behind Al Hilal's Saudi top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Al-Nasr will play its next match on January 17 (5 pm GMT) against Al-Taawoun, which currently ranks ninth after winning five matches and losing five of the first 13 matches in the league.
