Agency, Oct 30: Al Nassr continued their impressive run in the Saudi Pro League with a 5-3 victory over Al Kholood on Thursday night, thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Playing at Al-Awwal Park, Al Nassr secured their fourth consecutive league win, with Ronaldo scoring three goals, while Angelo and Sadio Mane added one goal each. Julian Dominguez scored twice for Al Kholood, while Loic Essomba found the net once.
Al Kholood took an early lead in the 16th minute through Dominguez . Ronaldo had briefly thought he had opened the scoring in the 12th minute, but his effort was ruled out following a VAR review.
Al Nassr responded in the 24th minute when Angelo found the net from a Joao Felix assist to make it 1-1. Felix provided another assist in the 38th minute, setting up Mane to put the hosts ahead 2-1.
However, Al Kholood restored parity just before half-time, with Essomba scoring in stoppage time to make it 2-2.
Ronaldo took control in the second half. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner restored Al Nassr’s lead in the 66th minute, finishing another Joao Felix assist to make it 3-2.
Six minutes later, Ronaldo struck again, once more benefiting from Felix’s creativity, to extend the lead to 4-2.
The Portuguese forward completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute, converting a pass from Mane to put Al Nassr firmly in control at 5-2.
Dominguez scored his second goal from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time, but it was too late to spark a comeback as Al Nassr held on for a convincing 5-3 victory.
With this win, Al Nassr moved to 28 points from 11 matches and remained second in the Saudi Pro League standings. Al Kholood, meanwhile, sit 10th with 12 points from the same number of matches.
