Riyadh: In the rush of winning the Arab Champions Cup, Al Nasr lost in the first match of the new season of the Saudi Pro League. Al Itifaq defeated Nasr (2-1). Sadio Mane, who led the team in the absence of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, scored a goal in the first match but could not win the team.
The meeting was for Al-Nasr to lose on a field where three former Liverpool players, including a player and a coach, were on the verge of defeat. Al Itifaq was coached by ex-Liverpool-England player Steven Gerrard. Another star Jordan Henderson is also the hero. Sadio Mane used to play for Liverpool at Al Nasr. Saudi clubs brought the three to the team for the new season by throwing money.
Al Nasser manager Luis Castro fielded the team without any of the prominent foreign players in the team, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Croatia’s Brozovic. Still for the team to take the lead in the fourth minute. Mane scored from close range. The star’s first goal in the Saudi Pro League. In Cristiano’s absence, it was Mane who moved the forward line of the team. Al Nasr ended the first half with Mane’s goal in the lead.
But in the second half, two goals scored at six minute intervals sealed the victory for Al Itifaq. Robin Quaison in the 47th minute and Mousa Dumbale in the 53rd minute opened the net for Al Ittifaq. Mane hit the net for the second time with a smashing volley but fell into the offside trap. Ronaldo missed the Arab Cup due to injury. Meanwhile, the fact that Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson started with wins will boost their confidence in the upcoming matches.
2023-08-15 01:56:26
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