September 21st 2024.
Cristiano Ronaldo made his mark on the scoresheet as Al-Nassr secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Ettifaq on Friday. It was also a special moment for their new coach, Stefano Pioli, as he celebrated his first game in charge with a win. Pioli, who previously led AC Milan to the Serie A title, was appointed just two days prior to the match, replacing Luis Castro who was let go after a slow start to the season.
Ronaldo, who had missed their previous game due to a viral infection, wasted no time in showing his impact on the pitch. He confidently converted a penalty in the 33rd minute, marking his third goal of the season. The 39-year-old striker then surprised the crowd by holding up three fingers in celebration, which was later revealed to be a nod to his son Cristiano Jr. The proud father was acknowledging his son's two goals for Al-Nassr's youth team earlier in the day.
In the second half, Salem Al-Najdi and Anderson Talisca continued to dominate for Al-Nassr, further extending their lead. It was a disappointing result for Ettifaq, who suffered their first loss of the season, but they still maintain their position in third place under the guidance of coach Steven Gerrard. Al-Nassr, on the other hand, moved up to fourth place in the standings.
Meanwhile, in Jeddah, Al-Ahli secured a 4-2 victory over Damac thanks to two goals from Ivan Toney, who recently joined the club from English Premier League side Brentford. Toney's performance, which included an assist for Gabri Veiga's goal, proved to be a valuable addition to the team. Their win pushed them up to fifth place in the standings.
As for the top two teams, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, they will face off on Saturday in what is expected to be an exciting match. But for now, it was Al-Nassr and their star player Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the spotlight with their impressive performance and triumphant win.
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