Al-Nassr
Al-Nassr Fight Back to Stun Al Taawon 2-1
Al-Nassr clawed their way back from an early deficit to claim a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al Taawon in a pulsating Pro League encounter at King Fahd International Stadium. The hosts rode their luck after Bassam Al Hurayji’s shock opener before Samu Costa and Cristiano Ronaldo turned the tide with crucial strikes either side of half-time.
Al Taawon Shock the Champions Early
The visitors silenced the home crowd after just 11 minutes when Al Hurayji pounced on hesitant defending to slot past Nawaf Al-Aqidi. Al Taawon’s compact 3-4-3 formation frustrated Al-Nassr, who saw Salem Alnajdi booked for a cynical foul moments later. The champions struggled to break through, mustering just one shot on target in the opening 35 minutes against Al Taawon’s disciplined backline.
Samu Costa Sparks Al-Nassr Revival
The momentum swung in first-half stoppage time when Sadio Mané slipped a perfect through ball to Samu Costa, who coolly finished past Mailson. The Portuguese midfielder’s equaliser – his first goal for the club – sent the teams into the break level despite Al Taawon’s xG of just 0.23 in the opening period.
Ronaldo Delivers When It Matters
Five minutes after the restart, Mohamed Simakan’s searching cross found Ronaldo peeling away at the back post. The 41-year-old’s textbook downward header gave Mailson no chance, marking his fourth goal in as many Pro League games this season. Al Taawon threw on fresh legs including Paul Guiagon, but Al-Nassr’s 58% possession and 16 total shots told the story of their growing dominance.
Al Taawon’s Valiant Effort Falls Short
Marin Petkov’s late yellow card summed up Al Taawon’s increasing frustration as their attacks broke against Al-Nassr’s resolute backline. Substitute Abdulrahman Al Hamdan nearly added a third in the 83rd minute, forcing a sharp save from Mailson. The visitors’ last-gasp push came to nothing, their lone second-half shot on target easily handled by Al-Aqidi.
What This Means For Both Sides
This comeback keeps Al-Nassr’s perfect start intact with 12 points from four games, while Al Taawon slip to mid-table. Ronaldo’s decisive contribution proves the veteran remains the difference-maker in tight matches. For Zarko Lazetic’s side, this narrow defeat shows they can compete with the league’s elite – but converting promising positions remains their Achilles’ heel. Both teams now turn their attention to AFC Champions League duties before returning to Pro League action in September.
Key Moments
11′ ⚽ Al Taawon — B. Al Hurayji
45+5′ ⚽ Al-Nassr — Samu Costa (assist: S. Mane)
50′ ⚽ Al-Nassr — C. Ronaldo (assist: M. Simakan)
