Cristiano Ronaldo, tripping Gerrard: goal and assist in Al Nassr’s 3-1 win
A heavyweight victory to try to reopen the race for the top spot.
Cristiano Ronaldo dazzled in his Al Nassr jersey, starring in a crucial 3-1 win against Al-Ettifaq in the 18th day of the Saudi Pro League. The Lusitanian champion è got into the action particularly in the second half, packing the assist that allowed former Inter Milan player Brozovic to double and then closing out the contest by scoring a penalty.
Many stars were on the field at King Abdullah Stadium. Behind Cristiano Ronaldo (also team captain), Al Nassr could rely on Sadio Mané while in the midfield dam besides Brozovic was former Udinese Seko Fofana. On the left another familiar face of Inter fans: Alex Telles. And it was precisely the Brazilian side that put the hosts ahead on 43'. On the other side Steven Gerrard, coach of Al-Ettifaq, could make use of Moussa Dembele, Robin Quaison (already at Palermo), Georginio Wijnaldum (last season at Roma) and captain Jordan Henderson.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s show, as mentioned, materialized però in the second half. In fact, at 59' the great former of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus launched Brozovic deftly to sign Al Nassr's second goal. Then, after thwarting an assist from Mané, he took advantage of Abdulrahman's hand in the box to convert the penalty that at 73' effectively ended the game that Al Kuwaykibi's tap-in at 85' was not enough to reopen. CR7 and his teammates are now -10 points behind the leading Al-Hilal, but with a chance to move to -7 having played one game less than their rivals.
