Al-Nassr needed a late goal to salvage a 2-2 draw against relegation battlers Al-Riyadh after a dismal showing from Cristiano Ronaldo and company.
TELL ME MORECristiano Ronaldo’s side went into the clash as clear favourites to get three points over Al-Riyadh, however, that was not the case as the hosts managed to frustrate the league runners-up in the first half of the game. Otavio’s deflected shot opened the scoring on the night as it looked initially like Al-Nassr might run away with the game. Ronaldo was offered a spectacular opportunity to double the lead but his horrendous miss followed a counter from Al-Riyadh that ended with a spectacular goal from Andre Gray. The hosts took the lead via Mohammed Al-Aqel, who scored with a stunning bicycle kick past a helpless David Ospina before Ronaldo fluffed his lines yet again in front of goal having been offered a perfect opportunity to equalize.The second half saw Al-Nassr come out pounding on Al-Riyadh’s door, however, Ronaldo’s woes in front of goal continued as he failed to convert from Sadio Mane’s pass into the six-yard box. Al-Nassr’s frustrations started to grow and the tension got to Aymeric Laporte who struck Al-Aqel with an off-the-ball slap which saw the Frenchman given his second red card of the season. Al-Nassr managed to equalize in the seventh minute of injury time via Meshari Al-Nemer.
THE MVPAl-Riyadh entered the game with very low odds of being able to take anything from the match. After a strong start to the clash, they were unfortunate to concede the opener after a cruel deflection on Otavio’s shot. However, the hosts rose to the occasion and beautiful goals from Gray and Al-Aqel saw them take the lead into injury time. However, substitute goalkeeper Abdulrahman Hadal’s mistake allowed Al-Nemer to equalize and only gave them a solitary point on a day where the three points would have seen them secure safety.
