Al-nassr Vs Al-hazem: al-nassr vs al-hazem ends 4-0 as Ronaldo brace lifts Jorge Jesus' side
al-nassr vs al-hazem produced a 4-0 win for the home side as Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help move the team to the top of the Saudi Pro League. The result will matter for the title race after Al-Nassr closed out an eighth straight league win and climbed above rivals Al Hilal.
Al-nassr Vs Al-hazem: Ronaldo's early strike and the VAR check
The first goal came after 13 minutes when Kingsley Coman found Cristiano Ronaldo in a crowded penalty area; Ronaldo took a touch with his right before clipping a left-foot effort into the far corner. That finish was given following a VAR check for offside. One match account noted the finish as Ronaldo's 500th since turning 30, while another described the game as the day he surpassed 500 goals after turning 30, with one source then noting a 501st tally soon after.
Coman and João Félix combine as Ângelo adds the third
Al-Nassr extended the lead on the half-hour when João Félix set up Kingsley Coman after a swift passing move, Coman converting to make it 2-0. Before the interval Ronaldo had a goal ruled out for offside, and after an instance in which he was again denied by an offside flag, Brazilian Ângelo carved through and scored in the 77th minute with a fine individual run from inside his own half.
Ronaldo's second, missed matches this month and manager backing
Ronaldo finally got his second of the night with 10 minutes to go, latching on to a short pass from Coman into the left side of the penalty area before drilling an angled drive; following another VAR review for offside the goal stood. The 41-year-old had missed two league matches and an AFC Cup game earlier this month after reportedly going on strike in protest at his club's lack of January transfer business. Manager Jorge Jesus has backed Ronaldo's transfer complaint.
Standings, milestones, and what comes next
The victory took Al-Nassr to 55 points and into first place, their eighth straight league win moving them a point above rivals Al Hilal, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home by 10-man Al Ittihad. That match saw Al Ittihad reduced to 10 men and playing with one less since the ninth minute of the first half. One summary listed Simone Inzaghi's team on 54 points, while another indicated Sérgio Conceição’s men had reached 38 and were in sixth.
The game was played on a Saturday (21st) and was framed in one account as particularly notable because Ronaldo, who celebrated his birthday on the 5th of this month, scored twice and continued to edge his way toward a larger career total described as "shortening his race towards a thousand. " Match details included Ronaldo taking the ball away from Zaied after receiving from Coman for the early strike, and the third goal timing described at 77'.
Al-Hazem position and upcoming fixtures for both sides
Al-Hazem remain with 24 points and sit in 12th place. The two teams turn quickly to their next fixtures: CR7 and company will visit Al-Fayha (10th) on Saturday (28th) at Al Majma'ah Sports City, while Al-Hazem host Al-Ettifaq (7th) on Friday (27th) at Ar-Rass Stadium.
