Al-Nassr 3-1 Al Kholood: Ronaldo on target as hosts climb to third

Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Jhon Duran all scored as 10-man Al-Nassr defeated Al Kholood to move up to third place in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

It was a first win in three matches for Al-Nassr, who played with 10 men after a second yellow card for Nawaf Bu Washl in the 54th minute.

Ronaldo found the breakthrough inside four minutes as he scored on the rebound after Duran’s shot had hit the woodwork.

The Portugal international’s delightful through pass then sent Salem Al Najdi racing down the right-hand side before he crossed in for Mane to double the lead in the 26th minute.

Duran’s low drive from the edge of the box made it 3-0 before the break. Ali Lajami’s own goal in the 72nd minute reduced the deficit for the visitors, but Stefano Pioli’s side held on for the three points.

Al-Nassr, on 51 points, took third place on goal difference after leapfrogging Al-Qadsiah, who were beaten by Damac 1-0 after Habib Diallo scored in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time.

Al Kholood, meanwhile, are 10th with 31 points.

|| Full time,@AlNassrFC 3:1 #AlKholood pic.twitter.com/uDDs6JSUZE

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) March 14, 2025

Data Debrief: Ronaldo shines again

Although only lasting 61 minutes on the field, Ronaldo’s early opener for Al-Nassr was his 19th goal in the Saudi top flight this season and his 928th career goal.

The league’s leading scorer has netted two more than Al-Shabab’s Abderrazak Hamdallah and three more than Karim Benzema, Ivan Toney and Marcos Leonardo.

Though it was the hosts who emerged victorious, Al Kholood had 23 attempts in the game, compared to 13 from Al-Nassr. But the visiting side only had three shots on target while Al-Nassr recorded seven.