Cristiano Ronaldo Secures Comeback Victory for Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo delivered the decisive touch once again on Friday night, firing Al Nassr to a 2-1 comeback win over Al Taawoun and preserving their flawless start to the Saudi Pro League season.

Four games, four wins. Ronaldo at the heart of it all.

The 41-year-old led the line from the start, days after Al Nassr had pulled off a wild 3-2 turnaround against Al Ettifaq. In that match, Ange Postecoglou’s side had gone in 2-0 down at the break, lost goalkeeper Bento to a red card, and then watched their manager make the bold call to withdraw Ronaldo before a late three-goal surge stole all three points.

This time, there was no early hook. There was, however, the now-familiar early setback.

Al Taawoun struck first in the 11th minute, Mohammed Bassam Al Hurayji punishing Al Nassr as the hosts fell behind once more. The pattern from midweek threatened to repeat: slow start, defensive anxiety, chasing the game.

The response came right on the cusp of halftime. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Samú Costa stepped up, driving Al Nassr level in the fifth added minute to drag his side back into the contest and shift the mood inside the stadium.

The equaliser changed the temperature. The winner changed the night.

Five minutes after the restart, Al Nassr sliced through down the left. João Félix burst into the Al Taawoun area, twisting the defence and cutting the ball back into a crowded box. His pass found Mohamed Simakan on the edge, who unleashed a low, goal-bound effort toward the far corner.

Six yards out, Ronaldo reacted. A deft flick, a slight redirection, and the ball flashed past the keeper for what was recorded as his 978th career goal. Simakan stood stunned, hands out, as Ronaldo sprinted away in celebration, replays showing the original strike looked destined for the bottom corner before the veteran forward applied the final touch.

Al Taawoun never found a way back. Al Nassr saw the game out with the composure of a team that expects to win, not hopes to. The comeback against Al Ettifaq had been chaotic and desperate; this one felt controlled, almost inevitable once Ronaldo got his chance.

Perfect record intact. Top of the table. And a 41-year-old still deciding games with a touch from six yards.