Al Nassr vs Al Akhdoud score, result, highlights as Cristiano Ronaldo double seals Saudi Pro League
Cristiano Ronaldo brought his Saudi Pro League goal tally up to 15 for the 2023/24 season as Al Nassr eased to a 3-0 home win over Al Akhdoud.
Al Nassr have now closed the title gap to one point behind leaders Al Hilal with Ronaldo's late rally securing all three points on the night in Riyadh.
Sami Al-Najei's early strike settled the home side's nerves on their return to domestic action, but Luis Castro's team were forced to rely on Ronaldo to get them over the line in closing stages.
Poor goalkeeping played a role in Ronaldo's double, with Paulo Vitor at fault for both goals, but the Portugal star's audacious long-range second is one of the best he has scored in Saudi Arabia.
MORE: Saudi Pro League top scorers 2023/2024: Updated Golden Boot
Al Nassr vs Al Akhdoud final score
| Result | Goal scorers | |
| Al Nassr | 3 | Al-Najei, Ronaldo x2 |
| Al Akhdoud | 0 | — |
Lineups:
Al Nassr (4-2-3-1): Al-Najjar (GK) — Al-Ghanam, Alamri, Fatil, Telles (Maran, 90+3) — Fofana (Al Sulaiheem, 58), Al-Najei (Brozovic, 58) — Otavio (Al Hassan, 88), Talisca, Ghareeb (Yahya, 58) — Ronaldo.
Al Akhdoud (5-4-1): Vitor (GK) — Al Zabdani, Khamis (Al Harthi, 60), Kvirkvelia, Burca, Alyami — Collado, Pedraza, Tănase (Al Muwallad, 90), Godwin — Tawamba (Khodari, 90).
Al Nassr vs Al Akhdoud highlights and commentary
FULL TIME: AL NASSR 3 AL AKHDOUD 0
Ronaldo's late double inspires Al Nassr to victory on their Saudi Pro League return with the Portuguese star now overtaking his 14 league goals from last season as he moves on to 15 for the campaign.
The title gap closes to one point behind Al Hilal overnight!
It’s him again 🤩🐐 pic.twitter.com/KdZiWchdvq
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 24, 202390 mins: Four minutes added on!
80 mins: RONALLLLLLLLLLDO MAKES IT 3-0!
15 LEAGUE GOALS FOR RONALDO! AS HE BREAKS NEW GROUND IN SAUDI ARABIA!
Vitor rushes off his line to sweep up an Al Nassr counter attack, but his clearance bounces to Ronaldo from 35 yards out, and he lofts home a fantastic finish!
What a ridiculous goal from @Cristiano...
How far out is he? 🤯#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/AdA2zTNgkw
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) November 24, 202376 mins: Ronaldo seals it for Al Nassr...2-0!
Just minutes after wasting a chance.....Ronaldo slots home his 14th Saudi Pro League goal of 2023/24!
Vitor makes a mess of Alex Telles' deep cross into the box and Ronaldo steadies himself to fire home!
A thunderous strike from @Cristiano from a tight angle 🤏💥#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/9dWZE3HHiX
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) November 24, 202371 mins: BIG CHANCE FOR RONALDO!
Al Nassr's captain has been quiet tonight, but he worked an angle inside the edge of the Al Akhdoud box, and Vitor makes a key stop!
65 mins: More changes from the visitors, who will be confident they can snatch an equaliser, if Al Nassr do not double their lead.
58 mins: Three changes for Al Nassr as Castro looks to settle this game in the closing stages with Brozovic, Abdulmajeed Al Sulaiheem and Ayman Yahya all brought on.
50 mins: A flurry of corners for Al Nassr after the restart but the game is still tightly balanced at 1-0.
46 mins: BACK UNDERWAY IN RIYADH!
▶️ || 2nd half kickoff,@AlNassrFC 1:0 #AlOkhdood #AlNassrAlOkhdood || #yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/QWu50iSqqt
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 24, 2023HALF TIME: AL NASSR 1 AL AKHDOUD 0!
Al-Najei's goal is the difference at the break as Al Nassr aim for a winning return to Saudi Pro League action!
☝️ for us pic.twitter.com/R463ldrgR8
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 24, 202340 min: Al Nassr have eased up a little as they look to get to the break in the lead.
32mins: HOLD ON.....VAR check for a penalty against Al Nassr!
Mohammed Al Fati appeared to handle inside the Al Nassr box but the penalty calls are rejected after a quick VAR review. A huge relief for the hosts!
28 mins: Al Nassr are beginning to pile the pressure on Al Akhdoud but they are yet to find a second goal to put some distance between themselves and the visitors.
Half chance at the other end as Alex Collado lines one up from distance but Raghed Al-Najjar bats away his strike.
23 mins: Al-Najei is inches away from a second goal as Paulo Vitor produces a superb stop to deny him.
15 mins: AL NASSR TAKE THE LEAD!
The hosts pressure pays off! Sultan Al Ghanam does well to keep a loose ball alive inside the Al Akhdoud box and his cut back is fired home by Sami Al-Najei!
Al Ghannam's assist was so good that Al Naji had to clean his boots for him 😁#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/m33Rhkens8
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) November 24, 202310 mins: It's one-way traffic so far in Riyadh, as Ronaldo cuts inside on the edge of the box, but his strike flashes wide of the post.
5 mins: A huge early chance for Al Nassr but Talisca blazes over the bar!
KICKOFF: AL NASSR VS AL AKHDOUD!
⏳ || Kickoff,@AlNassrFC vs #AlOkhdood #AlNassrAlOkhdood || #yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/OYgLFWmkFz
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 24, 202310 mins to KO: Cristiano warming up for Saudi Pro League return!
🇵🇹 @Cristiano is in the house 🤩 #yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/lMCOk9EsIM
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) November 24, 202330 mins to KO: Al Nassr are back in town!
Here we are!! 🙌💛 pic.twitter.com/fkb5PnZkNH
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 24, 20231 hour to KO: TEAM NEWS IS IN!
Castro has opted to rotate his team with Persepolis on the agenda next week as Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic are named on the bench after their international returns.
🗒 || Starting lineup,@AlNassrFC vs #AlOkhdood #AlNassrAlOkhdood pic.twitter.com/1K5iCbPKCo
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 24, 20231 hour and 30 mins to KO: Sadio Mane celebrated his 100th international cap with Senegal during the international break with only Everton's Idrissa Gana Gueye (106) making more appearances for the Lions of Teranga.
🎬 Saaadioo .. Saaadioo .. Saaadioo 😍
Mané’s teammates celebrating his 100 international caps 🤩🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/A722bIWSbk
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 23, 20232 hours to KO: Welcome to the The Sporting News' live coverage of Al Nassr's Saudi Pro League clash with Al Akhdoud in Riyadh.
Al Nassr are BACK in action after the final international break of 2023!
Back 🙌 pic.twitter.com/zLcNk0HVBw
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) November 24, 2023Al Nassr vs Al Akhdoud lineups
Castro has not confirmed any injury issues from the international break ,with Ronaldo starting in both of Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifiers, but Brozovic and Mane are rested from the start.
Aymeric Laporte has not recovered from the foot injury that forced him to miss out on Spain duty.
Al Nassr lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Al-Najjar (GK) — Al-Ghanam, Alamri, Fatil, Telles — Fofana, Al-Najei — Otavio, Talisca, Ghareeb — Ronaldo.
Al Nassr subs (9): Abdullah (GK), Madu, Al-Sulaiheem, Mane, Maran, Alhassan, Yahya, Brozovic, Lajami.
Former Barcelona midfielder Alex Collado is the key star for Al Akhdoud with the 24-year-old already a vital player after joining on loan from Real Betis.
Left back Hamed Al Mansour misses out through suspension with Awadh Khamis set to replace him.
Al Akhdoud lineup (5-4-1, right to left): Vitor (GK) — Al Zabdani, Khamis, Kvirkvelia, Burca, Alyami — Collado, Pedraza, Tănase, Godwin — Tawamba.
Al Akhdoud subs (9): Al Awardi (GK), Al Habib, Al-Rio, Al-Muwallad, Al Harthi, Al Hatila, Al Shaikh, Asiri, Khodari, Al Awardi.
Al Nassr vs Al Akhdoud live stream, TV channel
The Al Nassr vs. Al Akhdoud match from in Saudi Pro League action and kicks off at 9:00 p.m. local time from King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh.
Below are the corresponding times, TV channels, and live streams to watch the match in regions around the world
| Date | Kickoff time | TV | Streaming | |
| USA | Fri, Nov. 24 | 1 p.m. ET | Fox Soccer Plus | Fubo |
| Canada | Fri, Nov. 24 | 1 p.m. ET | — | DAZN |
| UK | Fri, Nov. 24 | 6 p.m. BST | — | DAZN |
| Australia | Sat, Nov. 25 | 5 a.m. AEST | — | 10 Play |
| India | Fri, Nov. 24 | 11:30 p.m. IST | Sony TEN 1 | JioTV, Sony LIV |
| Hong Kong | Sat, Nov. 25 | 2 a.m. HKT | — | SPOTV |
| Malaysia | Sat, Nov. 25 | 2 a.m. MYT | — | SPOTV |
| Singapore | Sat, Nov. 25 | 2 a.m. SGT | — | SPOTV |
| New Zealand | Sat, Nov. 25 | 7 a.m. NZST | — | Shahid |
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