Al-Nassr 2-0 Al-Khaleej: Tale of two penalties for Ronaldo

On May 21, 2025, Al Nassr hosted Al Khaleej at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh for his or her penultimate fixture of the Saudi Pro League season. Despite a season packed with ups and downs, Al Nassr managed to secure a 2-0 victory, presenting a short-term uplift for his or her fanatics. The fit turned into a marked one with the aid of using Cristiano Ronaldo's overdue intention and next apology, reflecting the team's hard adventure this season.

Match Summary

The recreation remained goalless till the seventy-fifth minute, when Jhon Duran broke the deadlock, giving Al Nassr a 1-0 lead. Earlier, within the fit, Cristiano Ronaldo ignored a critical penalty, adding to the tension. However, within the 6th minute of stoppage time, Ronaldo redeemed himself with the aid of scoring, securing a 2-0 win for Al Nassr. Immediately after his intention, Ronaldo gestured an apology to the fanatics for his advance miss, a second that underscored the emotional weight of the fit .

Team Lineups

Al Nassr:

Goalkeeper: David Ospina

Defenders: Sultan Al-Ghannam, Aymeric Laporte, Ali Lajami, Alex Telles

Midfielders: Marcelo Brozović, Otávio, Abdullah Al-Khaibari

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Jhon Duran, Sadio Mané

Al Khaleej:

Goalkeeper: Ibrahim Sehic

Defenders: Mohammed Al-Khabrani, Lisandro López, Khaled Al-Dubaysh, Abdullah Al-Salem

Midfielders: Kostas Fortounis, Hazzaa Al-Hazaa, Andre Carrillo

Forwards: Fábio Martins, Hamed Al-Ghamdi, Mohamed Al-Kuwaykibi.

Tactical Overview

Al Nassr, under the guidance of head coach Stefano Pioli, adopted an aggressive 4-3-3 formation, emphasizing wing play and quick transitions. The midfield trio worked diligently to control possession and supply the forwards with opportunities. Al Khaleej, managed by Georgios Donis, opted for a more conservative approach, focusing on defensive solidity and counter-attacks. Their strategy aimed to absorb pressure and exploit any gaps left by Al Nassr's advancing players.

Match Statistics

Possession: Al Nassr 65% - 35% Al Khaleej

Shots on Target: Al Nassr 7 - 2 Al Khaleej

Total Shots: Al Nassr 15 - 6 Al Khaleej

Corners: Al Nassr 8 - 3 Al Khaleej

Fouls: Al Nassr 10 - 12 Al Khaleej

Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier hit the post from the penalty spot, scored as Al-Nassr beat Al-Khaleej 2-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored one penalty and missed another as Al-Nassr maintained their hopes of a third-placed finish in the Saudi Pro League, beating Al-Khaleej 2-0.

Following Al Qadsiah's 3-1 victory over Al-Orobah on Tuesday, Al-Nassr knew only a win would keep them in the race for third going into the final matchday.

If Al-Nassr are to play in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite, they must finish third and hope Al-Qadsiah lose the King's Cup final to Al-Ittihad on May 30.

They accomplished part one of their mission on Wednesday, though they needed 75 minutes to make the breakthrough.

Jhon Duran – who had earlier dragged a shot to the left of a gaping goal – got across his man to glance Sadio Mane's inswinging cross into the bottom-right corner.

That came after Ronaldo missed the first of his two penalties, rolling his 65th-minute kick against the base of the post following Ali Abdulraouf's foul on Sultan Al Ghannam.

The mid-table visitors pushed for an equaliser but their hopes were dashed when goalkeeper Raed Ozaybi clattered Ronaldo in the box in the 96th minute, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner dusting himself down to slot into the same corner he had narrowly missed earlier on.

Al-Nassr visit Al Fateh for their final game of the campaign, needing to better Al-Qadsiah's result at second-placed Al-Hilal.

Al-Ahli, who have already sealed AFC Champions League Elite qualification as the new holders, could also finish third if they win their final two matches and results go their way.

Data debrief: Ronaldo atones for rare miss

After making Al-Nassr's points safe with his stoppage-time penalty, Ronaldo held up his hands to apologise for his earlier miss.

Al-Nassr's first penalty was the first Ronaldo had missed since arriving in the Saudi Pro League midway through the 2022-23 campaign. He has scored with 21 of his 22 attempts in the competition.

Those two spot-kicks ensured Ronaldo – who attempted a huge nine shots – accounted for 2.26 of Al-Nassr's total of 2.84 expected goals (xG).

Player Performances

Cristiano Ronaldo: Despite lacking a penalty, Ronaldo showcased resilience by way of scoring in stoppage time. His management and resolution have been glaring during the suit.

Jhon Duran: The younger forward's aim within the 75th minute became essential in breaking the deadlock. His motion and positioning posed regular threats to Al Khaleej's defense.

Kostas Fortounis: Al Khaleej's midfielder, tried to orchestrate performances and create possibilities but became in large part contained by way of Al Nassr's midfield.

Season Context

Season ContextThis victory brings Al Nassr's factor tally to 63, positioning them 2nd within the league standings. However, they stay thirteen factors at the back of league champions Al Ittihad, highlighting the space that wishes to be bridged in destiny campaigns. Al Khaleej, on the other hand, sits in the tenth region with 34 factors, aiming to complete the season on an effective note.

Looking Ahead

Looking AheadAl Nassr will finish their season with an away game against Al Fateh. The group's goal is to complete the construction and build momentum for the subsequent season. Speculations surround Ronaldo's destiny, as his agreement is about to run out at the top of the season. Reports advocate ability moves, along with a stint with a Club World Cup group or a switch to every other Saudi Pro League club .

Conclusion

Al Nassr's 2-0 victory over Al Khaleej became a testimony to their perseverance in a hard season. While the win does not modify their league status significantly, it offers a morale boost and a basis to build upon. As the season wraps up, all eyes can be on the club's strategic decisions, specifically regarding key players and management, to make sure an extra aggressive area is in the imminent season.

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