Cristiano Ronaldo returned to domestic action in Saudi Arabia this Friday with smiles and a goal. After missing the Portugal national team’s training camp, the forward from Madeira returned to competition in an Al Nassr shirt, starting in the 3-0 home victory over Bruno Lage’s Al Diriyah in a Saudi league Matchday 8 fixture.
With João Félix and Samu Costa also starting for the home team, Cristiano Ronaldo—who had been in the spotlight recently due to a controversy involving national team coach Jorge Jesus—was the first to score in Riyadh, though the goal was ultimately disallowed for offside (9th minute).
Al Nassr started the match looking more dangerous and created two further good scoring opportunities. First, in the 13th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo set up Sadio Mané, whose powerful shot forced a difficult save from Waleed Abdullah. Later, around the 19th minute, Ronaldo provided a headed assist to Samu Costa, but Qasem Lajami cleared the ball off the line to prevent a goal.
The home side finally broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, with the captain himself scoring the goal that brought Cristiano Ronaldo to a career tally of 980 strikes. After Waleed Abdullah parried a shot from Kingsley Coman straight out in front of him, the ball fell to the Portuguese international, who opened the scoring in Riyadh.
Bruno Lage’s team responded just after the half-hour mark. Boulbina sent a low cross into the area where Mbemba was arriving; however, the former FC Porto center-back failed to connect right in front of goal following a crucial interception by Iñigo Martínez.
A miss at one end led to a goal at the other. Following a corner kick taken by João Félix, Samu Costa found himself unmarked in the center of the box and headed the ball into the net in the 35th minute. Shortly before halftime, João Félix opted to go it alone—despite Sadio Mané being in a better position—but his shot was saved by Waleed Abdullah.
After Millot fired a shot from outside the box that forced a great save from Bento, sending the ball out for a corner (49th minute), and João Félix forced a sharp reflex save from Waleed Abdullah from inside the area (64th minute), Al Nassr sealed the scoring with a clinical finish from Kingsley Coman. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, the Frenchman found the back of the net in the 77th minute.
