Cristiano Ronaldo’s early goal wasn’t enough to secure a victory as Al Nassr fell to a 3-1 defeat against Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal on Monday.
Ronaldo’s first-half strike had given Al Nassr, who sit in second place, a glimmer of hope to close the gap on Al Hilal.
However, the hosts secured the win with two penalties from Salem Al-Dawsari and Rúben Neves, along with a brilliant finish by Mohamed Kanno, extending their lead to seven points over their Riyadh rivals.
The match shifted significantly when Al Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi received a straight red card for a reckless challenge in the 60th minute, forcing Al Nassr to play the remainder of the game with just ten players.
Following Al-Aqidi’s dismissal, Kanno’s clever flick from a precise cross and Neves’ penalty during stoppage time cemented Al Hilal’s victory under Simone Inzaghi’s management.
