Ronaldo Scores Winning Goal, Silences Critics as Al-Nassr Stay Unbeaten
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a masterful response to his critics on Friday, scoring the winning goal as Al-Nassr overturned an early deficit to defeat Al-Taawun 2-1 at Mrsool Park in Riyadh. The 41-year-old Portuguese striker netted his 104th Saudi Pro League goal in the 50th minute, eclipsing Mohammed Al-Sharawy's record to become Al-Nassr's all-time leading scorer in the competition. The victory extended Al-Nassr's perfect start to four consecutive wins, keeping them top of the league table.
Key Points
- Al-Nassr fell behind in the 11th minute but equalised through Sami Al-Shumkhas in first-half stoppage time before Ronaldo's winner
- Ronaldo converted from close range in the 50th minute after defender Sultan Al-Ghannam's shot deflected into his path
- The goal was Ronaldo's 104th in 110 Saudi Pro League appearances, surpassing Al-Sharawy's previous record of 103
- His career total now stands at 978 goals, leaving him just 22 strikes away from the historic 1,000-goal milestone
- Al-Nassr maintain their 100% league record with four wins from four matches, sitting atop the standings
Why It Matters
The performance silenced growing speculation about Ronaldo's role in the squad after he was benched at halftime during last weekend's comeback win over Ettifaq, with British media including the Daily Mirror reporting that the club should consider terminating his contract. Ronaldo celebrated by thanking his teammates on social media, writing "3 points, we keep going," underscoring his commitment to the club's title ambitions despite the turbulent start to the season .
The performance silenced growing speculation about Ronaldo's role in the squad after he was benched at halftime during last weekend's comeback win over Ettifaq, with British media including the Daily Mirror reporting that the club should consider terminating his contract. Ronaldo celebrated by thanking his teammates on social media, writing "3 points, we keep going," underscoring his commitment to the club's title ambitions despite the turbulent start to the season .