Cristiano Ronaldo helps Al Nassr survive Al Taawoun scare and stay top

Al Nassr maintained their perfect start to the Roshn Saudi League season by coming from behind to beat Al Taawoun 2-1 on Friday, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the goal that completed the comeback.

The victory, secured in the fourth round of the competition, was Al Nassr’s fourth successive win. It moved them on to 12 points from four matches and kept them alone at the top of the table, underlining their strong opening to the campaign.

However, the result was far from straightforward. Al Taawoun made an early breakthrough and forced the league leaders to respond after taking the lead in the 11th minute.

Bassam Al-Hurayji opened the scoring for Al Taawoun, giving his side an early advantage and putting Al Nassr under pressure. The hosts attempted to regroup and find an equaliser before the interval, but Al Taawoun’s disciplined start made life difficult for the leaders.

Al Nassr continued to press and were rewarded deep into first-half stoppage time. New signing Samu Costa levelled the game in the fifth minute of added time, producing an excellent strike which the Al Taawoun goalkeeper was unable to keep out.

The equaliser sent the two teams into the break level and gave Al Nassr renewed momentum after their difficult opening period.

Ronaldo then made the decisive contribution shortly after the restart. The Portugal forward put Al Nassr ahead in the 50th minute by redirecting a shot from team-mate Mohamed Simakan with a clever touch, turning the match in his side’s favour.

The goal completed Al Nassr’s recovery from 1-0 down and gave them the lead for the first time in the match.

Al Taawoun pushed for another equaliser during the remaining minutes, while Al Nassr concentrated on protecting their advantage and securing all three points. The leaders dealt with their opponents’ attempts to get back into the contest and saw out the match until the final whistle.

The result leaves Al Nassr with a maximum 12 points from four games and confirms their position at the summit of the Roshn Saudi League. Their flawless record represents an ideal beginning to the season and reflects the club’s ambition to challenge strongly for the title.

For Al Taawoun, the performance offered evidence that they could trouble the league leaders, particularly after their early goal. But they were unable to preserve their advantage and were punished for failing to make the most of their opportunities during the match.

Al Nassr’s response was ultimately decisive. Samu Costa’s late first-half equaliser restored their belief, before Ronaldo’s intervention early in the second half ensured the league leaders avoided a damaging slip and continued their winning run.