Ronaldo Leads Al Nassr To Commanding Win Over Al Kholood

Al Nassr’s relentless pursuit of the Saudi Pro League title gained fresh momentum on Friday night as they dispatched Al Kholood 3-0 at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Buraydah. The result, driven by another historic strike from Cristiano Ronaldo and a clinical second-half surge, keeps the Riyadh giants firmly in contention at the top of the table, now just three points adrift of league leaders Al Hilal.

Coming into this Matchday 19 showdown, the two clubs stood on opposite ends of the league spectrum. Al Nassr, third with 40 points, had their eyes fixed on narrowing the gap to the summit, while Al Kholood, languishing in 14th with just 15 points from 18 matches, were desperate for a result to distance themselves from the relegation scrap. The stakes couldn’t have been higher for both teams, and the tension was palpable as the opening whistle sounded.

The first half offered a glimpse into the determination and grit of the hosts. Al Nassr, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, Kingsley Coman, and Angelo Gabriel, pressed from the outset. Yet, Al Kholood’s defense, marshaled by goalkeeper Juan Cozzani and captain Hattan Bahebri, held firm. Cozzani was called into action early, denying Felix at the near post and producing a string of saves to frustrate the visitors. The best chance for Al Nassr fell to Mane, who thought he had opened the scoring just before halftime, only for the offside flag to intervene after Felix was adjudged to be ahead of play. At the other end, Al Kholood carved out a rare opportunity from a close-range free kick, but Bento Krepski was equal to the task in the Al Nassr goal.

As the teams headed into the break deadlocked at 0-0, the home fans dared to dream. But whatever was said in the Al Nassr dressing room paid immediate dividends. Just three minutes into the second half, a slick team move involving Coman, Gabriel, Felix, and Mane unlocked the Kholood backline. It was the Portuguese connection that proved decisive: Ronaldo initiated the play with a pass to Felix, who surged into the box and, with a deft cutback, found Ronaldo perfectly placed. With the goal gaping, the legendary forward calmly slotted home his 961st career goal—a milestone that further cements his status as the world’s all-time leading scorer. "Portuguese combination at display as Al Nassr scores its opening goal. Ronaldo spots Felix on the left and threads an excellent pass to him. Felix makes his way inside the box and finds Ronaldo with a cutback, which takes Kholood keeper Cozzani out of the equation. With an empty net in front of him, it is the simplest of finishes for Ronaldo," reported Sportstar.

The goal, Ronaldo’s 18th of the season across all competitions, also marked his 17th in the Saudi Pro League campaign. It was a moment of vintage brilliance—one that drew the admiration of fans and teammates alike. And Al Nassr weren’t finished yet. Just five minutes later, Joao Felix again turned provider, this time whipping in a corner that Mohamed Simakan met with a thunderous near-post header to double the lead. The quick-fire double had the effect of sucking the life out of Al Kholood’s challenge, and the visitors began to dictate play with increasing authority.

Al Kholood’s hopes of a comeback were dealt a further blow in the 72nd minute when captain Hattan Bahebri was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Simakan—a decision that, on replay, appeared harsh and even drew sympathy from some Al Nassr players, including Ronaldo. "Hatan Bahebri, already on a yellow card, sees a straight card for elbowing Simakan. That seemed like a harsh decision, considering there was not much in that. A second yellow would have still made sense, but a straight red seems harsh," observed the match commentary.

With a man advantage and a two-goal cushion, Al Nassr pressed for more. Coman, who had been lively throughout, won a penalty in the 86th minute after being fouled inside the box by Ramzi Solan. With Ronaldo having been substituted moments earlier, the French winger stepped up to the spot and coolly sent the keeper the wrong way, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 victory for the visitors.

"Coman sends the keeper the wrong way to score Al Nassr’s third," noted the live coverage. The result was never in doubt after that, and the final whistle was met with jubilation from the traveling supporters. The win not only keeps Al Nassr in the title race but also marks their fourth straight league victory, a run that has reignited their campaign after a mid-season wobble.

For Al Nassr, the night belonged to their talismanic captain. With his latest strike, Ronaldo edges ever closer to the mythical 1,000-goal mark, now just 39 goals away from a feat no player in history has achieved. His relentless scoring, even at age 40, continues to inspire both teammates and fans. "Despite the passing years, Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring instinct remains as sharp as ever. With his latest strike, soccer’s all-time leading scorer has reached 18 goals for the season across all competitions, further solidifying his status as the undisputed leader of Al Nassr’s attack," highlighted Bolavip.

The victory also saw impressive performances from Joao Felix, who provided two assists, and Mohamed Simakan, whose dominance at both ends of the pitch was pivotal. Kingsley Coman’s late penalty capped off a night of attacking flair and defensive discipline for Jorge Jesus’ side.

Looking ahead, Al Nassr face a critical stretch of fixtures that could define their season. Up next is a clash with Al Riyadh on February 2, followed by a heavyweight encounter against reigning champions Al Ittihad just four days later. The team will then turn their attention to continental competition as they embark on the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Two against FK Arkadag.

For Al Kholood, the defeat leaves them mired in the lower reaches of the table. Despite a spirited first-half display, they were ultimately outclassed by a team with championship pedigree. The red card to Bahebri and the late penalty conceded will sting, but the focus now shifts to regrouping for the battles ahead as they seek to secure their top-flight status.

As the Saudi Pro League title race heats up, Al Nassr’s statement win in Buraydah sends a clear message: they’re not ready to relinquish their championship dreams just yet. With Ronaldo firing and a squad brimming with attacking talent, the chase is very much on.