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Al-Nassr started the game intensely and their first big chance came early, in the 17th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty with precision and gave the home team the lead. This moment was crucial to take control of the game, which was already tipping in favor of the Saudi team. The Portuguese superstar’s penalty goal came after a foul by Al-Orouba’s Jean Seri in the penalty area.
Ronaldo converted the penalty flawlessly. Al-Orouba’s goalkeeper tried to save the shot but could not stop the ball from going into the net. This goal gave Al-Nassr the advantage they needed to control the tempo and put their opponents under pressure, creating several chances to extend their lead.
Sadio Mané: Increase in leadership
It didn’t take long for Al-Nassr to extend its lead. In the 29th minute it was Sadio Mané who came up trumps. After an excellent pass from Cristiano Ronaldo, the Senegalese striker found the net and increased the score to 2-0. The move was executed quickly and precisely, highlighting the good coordination between Al-Nassr players.
Mané once again showed his value and why he is a key figure in Al-Nassr’s tactics. With this goal, he increased the team’s dominance in the game, while Al-Orouba found themselves in a difficult position as they had to react quickly to avoid a major defeat.
Half time: Al-Nassr dominates the game
The first half was completely controlled by Al-Nassr. Although Al-Orouba made some attempts to play forward, the home team’s defense was stable and well organized. Al-Nassr’s goalkeeper had little to do despite a few attacks from the opponent as the team’s defense was consistent.
The referee added four minutes of injury time at the end of the first half, but the score remained 2-0, reflecting Al-Nassr’s absolute control of the game. Attempts from Al-Orouba’s Cristian Tello and Karlo Muhar were not enough to turn the game around. The away team had difficulty breaking through Al-Nassr’s defensive block and so the first half ended without any major threats for Cristiano Ronaldo’s team.
Missed chances and striving for more goals
Despite the 2-0 lead, Al-Nassr continued to attack. Not content with just managing the result, the team wanted to score more goals. Players like Talisca and Sadio Mané continued to push to increase the score and created good chances in the opening minutes of the second half.
In the 34th minute, Mané had a great opportunity when he fired a powerful header, but the ball hit the crossbar, to the relief of Al-Orouba players and fans. It wasn’t just Mané who tried it. Talisca was also close to the goal, but his shot in the 37th minute went just wide to the right of the goal.
Al-Orouba’s defense holds up
Although Al-Nassr dominated most of the game, Al-Orouba also had some shining moments. In the 38th minute, Karlo Muhar managed to get a good shot on goal, but the Al-Nassr goalkeeper was alert and made a safe save. This save prevented Al-Orouba from reducing the distance and remaining in the game.
However, Al-Orouba was unable to convert its few chances into goals. The team tried to play more forward towards the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half, but they encountered Al-Nassr’s well-organized defense. The Riyadh team did not give up space and controlled the game with quick counterattacks and a dominant midfield performance.
Change and rhythm of play
Al-Nassr’s coach, keen to rest his players, made the first change in the 20th minute, replacing Sultan Al-Ghanam with Salem Al-Najdi. Al-Ghanam, who was temporarily injured, returned but was substituted to avoid aggravating the injury. This move did not affect the team’s dominance, which continued to put pressure on Al-Orouba.
Al-Nassr showed good emotional and physical control and remained well organized even after being substituted. The pace of the game, which had slowed somewhat after the second goal, still remained in favor of the home team, which retained control of all offensive and defensive actions.
Al-Orouba cannot respond
Despite their efforts, Al-Orouba was unable to catch up. They had a number of corners and free kicks but were unable to convert these opportunities into goals. Al-Orouba’s attackers, such as Cristian Tello and Emmanuel Boateng, were well marked and had few clear finishing opportunities.
Attempts to make progress through flank attacks were also unsuccessful. Al-Nassr’s players controlled the spaces well and prevented any significant advances from the visiting team, resulting in the game going quietly into the half-time break.
Second half and the pursuit of victory
As the second half began, Al-Nassr returned with the same determination as in the first half: they wanted to score more goals and secure a comfortable win. Despite their lead, the team did not give up the attack and continued to put pressure on Al-Orouba, who could not find solutions to break through the opponent’s defense.
Sadio Mané and Cristiano Ronaldo continued to be the main offensive players, with good movements and moves. Al-Orouba’s defense struggled to keep up with the pace of Al-Nassr’s attackers, who continued to push for the third goal.
Key moments and final stages of the game
- Cristiano Ronaldo opened the score with a penalty goal in the 17th minute.
- Sadio Mané extended the lead in the 29th minute after an assist from Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Talisca came close to scoring in the 37th minute, but his shot went just wide.
- Sadio Mané hit the crossbar with a powerful header in the 34th minute.
The game remained under Al-Nassr’s control as Al-Orouba tried but failed to create clear-cut chances. The visiting team’s defense showed some strong moments, but Al-Nassr’s attackers demonstrated technical and tactical superiority.
