Toba Owojaiye reportingÂ
Guiding Al Nassr to an impressive triumph, Ronaldo led his team to a 2-1 victory against Saudi rivals Al-Hilal in extra time on Saturday. Despite being reduced to 10 players for over an hour due to a last-man foul by Abdulelah Al-Amri in the 71st minute, Al Nassr managed to overcome the odds.
The Brazilian winger Michael put Al-Hilal ahead early in the second half with a header. However, Ronaldo responded by equalizing, forcing the game into extra time. He then seized the opportunity to score once more, completing a remarkable comeback.
Notable summer signings for both teams, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for Al-Hilal, as well as Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, and Alex Telles for Al Nassr, showcased their talents.
In the opening moments, Salem Al-Dawsari missed a chance for Al Nassr, sending a shot wide under the pressure of two defenders.
Despite Al Nassr’s challenging situation with center-back Al-Amri’s dismissal, they swiftly leveled the score immediately after going down to 10 players. Sultan Al-Ghannam’s well-placed cross allowed Ronaldo to capitalize, and his celebratory gesture was directed at Michael.
In the eighth minute of extra time, Ronaldo secured his victory, heading the ball into the net from a rebound after Seko Fofana’s long-range shot hit the crossbar.
Withstanding late pressure from Al-Hilal, Al Nassr clinched their first trophy since 2020, marking a significant achievement. This win adds to Ronaldo’s trophy collection, which had last been updated when he won the Coppa Italia with Juventus in May 2021.
Throughout the Arab Club Champions Cup campaign, the 38-year-old played a pivotal role for Al Nassr, amassing seven goals in six matches.