Cristiano Ronaldo scored a thumping header to get his Saudi Pro League campign underway and is now just two goals shy of 900 career goals. Ronaldo’s thumping first-half header was not enough though to help Al Nassr get the win as they were to a 1-1 home draw against Al Raed.
Last season’s top goalscorer picked up exactly where he left off in May; Ronaldo came out flying to power in a header 34 minutes into the game at Al Awwal Park, leaving 22-year-old goalkeeper Meshari Sunyur helpless to rescue on his RSL debut. The Al Nassr captain’s first goal of the campaign was made possible by some quick feet from Sadio Mane down the left flank.
WATCH:
⚽️ Ronaldo’s 50th goal in the #RoshnSaudiLeague was a great header! #EsportsWorldCup pic.twitter.com/maJdzk2OPR— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) August 22, 2024
The first half ended with Al Nassr in the lead thanks to Ronaldo’s 50th RSL goal; the Portuguese became the third fastest player to reach that mark, doing so in 49 matches. Only the league’s top two all-time top-scorers, Omar Al Somah and Abderrazak Hamdallah, did it faster.
Just four minutes after the restart, Al Nassr midfielder Abdullah Al Khaibari was put under pressure by Amir Sayoud who snatched the ball and advanced through on goal. The Algerian’s left-footed finish was spilled by goalkeeper Bento into the path of Mohammed Fouzair, but before the Moroccan could get to the ball, he was apprehended by Aymeric Laporte, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.
Al Raed captain Fouzair stepped up and found the bottom corner to draw his side level.
Ronaldo did manage to get the ball in the back of the net a second time in the 76th minute but his effort was chalked off due to off-side. A lengthy VAR check dissallowed the strike as Al Nassr manager Luis Castro ws left fuming.
“The cancellation of Ronaldo’s goal is incorrect and we have a penalty kick that was not given,” he said after the match.
“I started playing football when I was 11 years old and played in many tournaments, but here I saw really strange things from the referee,” he added.
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