Cristiano Ronaldo Leads Al Nassr to Victory Against Al Taawoun

Cristiano Ronaldo delivered again on Friday night, striking the winner as Al Nassr came from behind to beat Al Taawoun 2-1 and preserve their perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season.

Four games, four wins, and the 41-year-old still at the heart of it all.

Only three days earlier, Ange Postecoglou’s side had survived a wild contest against Al Ettifaq. Down to 10 men after goalkeeper Bento was sent off, trailing 2-0 at halftime, they somehow turned a desperate situation into a statement victory. Postecoglou took the bold step of sacrificing Ronaldo in that game, and Al Nassr responded with three goals in the final 16 minutes to snatch a 3-2 win.

This time, there was no early hook. Ronaldo stayed on, and he made sure his fingerprints were all over the result.

Al Nassr, though, did not make it easy for themselves. Al Taawoun struck first, silencing the away support in the 11th minute when Mohammed Bassam Al Hurayji punished slack defending to put the hosts ahead. Once again, Postecoglou’s team were chasing.

The response came deep into first-half stoppage time. In the fifth added minute, Samú Costa stepped up and dragged Al Nassr level, a crucial equaliser that changed the tone of the night and gave the visitors a platform to push on after the break.

The pressure finally told early in the second half, and the decisive moment carried a familiar signature.

Al Nassr carved Al Taawoun open down the left, João Félix bursting into the box with purpose. His cutback found Mohamed Simakan on the edge of the area, and the defender’s driven effort arrowed toward the bottom corner. Six yards out, Ronaldo reacted, flicking the ball past the goalkeeper in the 50th minute to claim the goal and register the 978th strike of his remarkable career.

Simakan could hardly believe it. Replays showed his shot was on target and destined for the corner, but the slightest touch from Ronaldo was enough to turn the goal – and the headlines – his way. As Simakan stood stunned, Ronaldo wheeled away, arms outstretched, soaking in yet another decisive moment.

Al Nassr saw out the remainder of the contest to make it four wins from four and stay top of the table, driven once more by a forward who refuses to slow down.