Al-Nassr 3-1 Al Kholood: Ronaldo on target as hosts climb to third

Game is over and the final score is Al Nassr FC 3-1 Al Kholood. Here is the match report.

2024/2025 Saudi Professional League

3-1

Match Report

Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Jhon Duran all scored as 10-man Al-Nassr defeated Al Kholood to move up to third place in the Saudi Pro League on Friday. 

It was a first win in three matches for Al-Nassr, who played with 10 men after a second yellow card for Nawaf Bu Washl in the 54th minute. 

Ronaldo found the breakthrough inside four minutes as he scored on the rebound after Duran's shot had hit the woodwork. 

The Portugal international's delightful through pass then sent Salem Al Najdi racing down the right-hand side before he crossed in for Mane to double the lead in the 26th minute. 

Duran's low drive from the edge of the box made it 3-0 before the break. Ali Lajami's own goal in the 72nd minute reduced the deficit for the visitors, but Stefano Pioli's side held on for the three points. 

Al-Nassr, on 51 points, took third place on goal difference after leapfrogging Al-Qadsiah, who were beaten by Damac 1-0 after Habib Diallo scored in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time. 

Al Kholood, meanwhile, are 10th with 31 points. 

|| Full time,@AlNassrFC 3:1 #AlKholood pic.twitter.com/uDDs6JSUZE

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) March 14, 2025

Data Debrief: Ronaldo shines again

Although only lasting 61 minutes on the field, Ronaldo's early opener for Al-Nassr was his 19th goal in the Saudi top flight this season and his 928th career goal. 

The league's leading scorer has netted two more than Al-Shabab's Abderrazak Hamdallah and three more than Karim Benzema, Ivan Toney and Marcos Leonardo. 

Though it was the hosts who emerged victorious, Al Kholood had 23 attempts in the game, compared to 13 from Al-Nassr. But the visiting side only had three shots on target while Al-Nassr recorded seven. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

4' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 1-0 Al Kholood (Cristiano Ronaldo)

9' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

20' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

26' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 2-0 Al Kholood (Sadio Mané)

38' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

41' GOAL! Al Nassr FC 3-0 Al Kholood (Jhon Durán)

52' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

54' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

57' Red Card! Sent Off

62' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

72' OWN GOAL! Al Nassr FC  Al Kholood

79' Highlight from Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

81' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

90' Match Event for Al Nassr FC vs Al Kholood

Line-ups

Al Nassr FC XI: Ronaldo, Brozovic, Mane, Ali Lajami, Ali Al-Hassan, Mohamed Simakan, Jhon Durán, Bento, Nawaf Al-Boushal, Ângelo, Salem Al Najdi

Subs: Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhim, Ahmad Al-Harbi, Raghed Al-Najjar, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Ayman Yahya, Mohammed Marran, Wesley, Majed Qasheesh, Youssef El Tahan

Al Kholood XI: Marcelo Grohe, Mohammed Jahfali, Norbert Gyömbér, W. Troost-Ekong, N'Doram, Maolida, Aliou Dieng, Abdullah Al-Hawsawi, Álex Collado, Jackson Muleka, Hammam Al-Hammami

Subs: Abdulfattah Asiri, Abdulrahman Al-Safari, Mohammed Mazyad Al-Shammari, Hassan Al-Asmari, Farhah Al-Shamrani, Mohammed Sawaan, Sultan Al-Shehri, Zaid Al-Anazi, Bassem Al-Arini