Wijnaldum double stuns Al-Nassr in Al-Ettifaq comeback

Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice as Al-Ettifaq came from behind to stun Al-Nassr 3-2 in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

Al-Nassr, who had won each of their last five matches, also finished the game with 10 men, with Jhon Duran receiving his marching orders in stoppage time to cap a disappointing day for Stefano Pioli’s side.

After an even first half, Aiman Yahya broke the deadlock less than two minutes after the break, but they were then penned back in the 55th minute, with Wijnaldum slotting in from inside the six-yard box.

Mohammed Al Fatil then restored Al-Nassr’s lead, but he later turned villain at the other end, helping the ball into the back of his own net to give their visitors hope in the final 10 minutes.

It was all Al-Ettifaq after that, and Wijnaldum was on hand to finish the comeback in the 89th minute, though there was more late drama as Duran was given a straight red card for smacking the back of Abdulelah Al Malki’s head.

Al-Nassr missed the chance to move back up to third in the table, having been displaced by Al-Qadsiah, who beat Al-Okhdood 2-0 earlier in the day.

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— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) February 21, 2025

Julian Quinones scored a first-half penalty in that game. Having won the spot-kick, he then stepped up on the half-hour mark, coolly beating Paulo Vitor from 12 yards.

Turki Al Ammar was then picked out in the box by Cameron Puertas in the 51st minute, with his strike finishing off the game.

Al-Okhdood missed the chance to move out of the relegation zone having failed to mount a challenge against Al-Qadsiah. They managed just one shot on target – in the 72nd minute.

Meanwhile, Al-Ahli’s 2-0 win over Damac in the first of Friday’s games means they now sit just three points behind Al-Nassr after 21 matches.

Ivan Toney gave the visitors a fourth-minute lead, turning Galeno’s ball into the back of the net from close range.

It was far from a comfortable win, though. After Al-Ahli failed to turn their early dominance into more goals, Damac grew into the game, though they failed to hit the back of the net with any of their 15 attempts.

Galeno made sure of the points in the closing stages of the match, profiting from a loose ball in the box.