Al Nassr Edge Al Shabab In Five Goal Thriller

On a brisk January evening at Al Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, Al Nassr’s faithful finally had reason to cheer again. After a bruising three-match losing streak that had left them seven points adrift of league leaders Al Hilal, the Knights of Najd clawed their way back to winning form with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League. The result wasn’t pretty, but it was desperately needed.

Heading into this clash, the pressure was mounting on Jorge Jesus and his men. Al Nassr, sitting second in the table with 31 points, had seen their once-promising campaign wobble thanks to defensive frailties—most notably, conceding a league-high six penalties and keeping just two clean sheets. Meanwhile, Al Shabab, languishing in 14th place, eyed the opportunity to exploit Al Nassr’s recent vulnerabilities. The visitors boasted attacking threat too, with Yannick Carrasco already tallying seven goals in twelve appearances.

But from the first whistle, the match delivered fireworks. Al Nassr wasted no time asserting themselves, taking the lead inside two minutes. A low cross from the left—intended for Cristiano Ronaldo—was bungled by Al Shabab’s Yaslam, who inadvertently slid the ball past his own keeper. The early own goal set the tone for a wild first half, and the home crowd erupted. Just six minutes later, the stadium was on its feet again. Joao Felix, lively on the left, whipped in a cross that found Wesley. The Brazilian’s deft header teed up Kingsley Coman, who executed a spectacular overhead kick to double Al Nassr’s advantage. It was a finish that, as one commentator quipped, “Ronaldo would be proud of.”

With a 2-0 lead inside eight minutes, Al Nassr looked poised to run riot. Yet, Al Shabab refused to wilt. Their patient approach paid dividends in the 31st minute when Al Hammami’s darting run and grounded cross into the box forced Al Nassr’s Mohamed Simakan into a desperate clearance—only for the defender to steer the ball into his own net. Suddenly, the visitors were back in it, and the mood inside Al Awwal Park grew tense. “Simakan’s own goal has definitely dented Al Nassr’s morale because the attacking fluidity is not visible anymore among Jorge Jesus’ men,” observed one report.

The remainder of the first half saw both sides probing for openings. Carrasco nearly capitalized on a poor clearance by Al Nassr’s keeper Bento, but Simakan atoned for his earlier error with a crucial block. Ronaldo, leading the league with 15 goals in 14 matches, threatened with a powerful free kick, but the Shabab wall stood firm. At the break, the home side held a slender 2-1 advantage, but the contest felt anything but settled.

When the teams emerged for the second half, Al Shabab showed no signs of surrender. Their persistence paid off in the 53rd minute. Carrasco, always a danger on the left, sliced open the Al Nassr defense with a perfectly timed, defense-splitting pass. Carlos Junior latched onto the ball, outpaced the back line, and coolly slotted past Bento to level the score at 2-2. The equalizer was a reward for Shabab’s resilience and a wake-up call for the hosts.

With the match finely poised, tempers began to flare. Bookings were handed out to Coman and Sierro as tackles flew in and both sides jostled for control. The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the 67th minute when Vincent Sierro, already on a yellow, committed a late challenge on Coman. The referee wasted no time in brandishing a second yellow and the inevitable red, reducing Al Shabab to ten men. It was the visitors’ sixth red card of the season, and it forced a tactical reshuffle—explosive winger Al Hammami was sacrificed for the more defensive Al Subiani.

Even with the numerical advantage, Al Nassr struggled to break down a stubborn Shabab rearguard. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 77th minute, though not without a hint of fortune. After a short corner routine, Wesley’s attempt was blocked in a crowded box. The ball ricocheted to Abdulrahman Ghareeb, who lashed a shot that pinged off a couple of defenders before nestling in the net. The home fans erupted, and a lengthy VAR check confirmed the goal would stand. “It wasn’t the flashiest of winners and definitely not a convincing performance from Jorge Jesus’ men, but after a three-match losing run, the Knights of Najd will take the three points,” noted the post-match summary.

The closing stages were nervy. Six minutes of added time saw bookings for Al Ghannam and Josh Brownhill as both teams fought tooth and nail. Carrasco whipped in dangerous deliveries, but Simakan redeemed himself with a crucial defensive header under pressure. Substitutions on both sides attempted to tip the balance, but Al Nassr ultimately held firm.

When the final whistle sounded, relief washed over the Al Nassr bench. The victory not only snapped their losing streak but also kept their faint title hopes alive, even as Al Hilal continued to set the pace atop the league. For Al Shabab, the defeat was a bitter pill, especially after showing such fight and composure for long stretches. Still, the visitors can take heart from their ability to push one of the league’s giants to the brink, even with a man down.

Looking at the broader picture, this match was a microcosm of Al Nassr’s season—flashes of brilliance, moments of chaos, and the ever-present influence of their star power. With Ronaldo still leading the scoring charts and the likes of Coman and Felix providing attacking flair, the Knights of Najd remain a force. But defensive lapses and disciplinary issues, highlighted by their penalty and own goal woes, continue to haunt them.

As the Saudi Pro League campaign rolls on, Al Nassr’s fans will hope this gritty win marks a turning point. For now, they can savor a night of high drama and hard-earned redemption at Al Awwal Park. The race for the title is far from over, and if this match is any indication, there’s plenty of excitement still to come in Riyadh.