Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating start to the Saudi Pro League season on Thursday after what looked to be his winning goal for Al Nassr was ruled out by the video assistant referee.
That left the match to finish 1-1, despite Ronaldo putting his side ahead in the first half. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who set a league record last season with 35 goals, grabbed his first goal of the new campaign with a powerful close-range header in the 34th minute.
The goal was Ronaldo's 50th in 48 games in the Saudi Pro League.
But Al Raed, who finished 12th last season, levelled the score through Mohammed Fouzair four minutes into the second half.
Adding to the irritation for Ronaldo and his team, Al Nassr were denied a penalty for handball deep into second-half stoppage time, despite the referee reviewing the incident on the pitch-side monitor.
Ronaldo is still seeking his first major trophy since joining Al Nassr following his exit from Manchester United in December 2022.
After finishing runners-up to Al Hilal in both the Saudi Pro League and Saudi King's Cup last season, Al Nassr were again beaten by the Riyadh side in the Saudi Super Cup on Saturday.
Al Nassr's Start
Al Nassr, led by the star power of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and Talisca, were looking to make a strong start to the new season. The team had a tough pre-season, losing three of their four friendlies. This included a 4-1 thrashing by Al-Hilal in the final of the Saudi Super Cup on August 17. Despite the losses, Al Nassr was confident in their ability to bounce back and challenge for the title.
Al Raed's Upset
Al Raed, on the other hand, was looking for a positive start after finishing 12th in the Saudi Pro League last season. The team had a much more successful pre-season, winning two of their three friendlies. Their last match was a 3-2 friendly defeat to Zorya on 22 July. This gave them some confidence to challenge Al Nassr on their home ground.
Ronaldo Opens the Scoring
The match started with both teams playing cautiously, trying to gauge each other’s strengths. However, Al Nassr eventually started to take control of the game, and they took the lead in the 34th minute when Ronaldo headed in a cross from Mané. It was a classic Ronaldo finish, powerful and accurate. This was Ronaldo’s 50th goal in 48 games in the Saudi Pro League.
Al Raed’s Penalty and Equalizer
Al Nassr looked set to cruise to victory, but Al Raed hit back in the 48th minute when Laporte fouled Fouzair inside the box. The referee initially showed a red card to Laporte and awarded a penalty to Al Raed. However, after reviewing the incident with VAR, he downgraded the card to a yellow and allowed the penalty. Fouzair stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. This was a huge blow for Al Nassr, who were now trailing for the first time in the game.
Ronaldo Denied a Second Goal
Al Nassr continued to press for a second goal, and Ronaldo came close to scoring again in the 76th minute. However, his goal was ruled offside after a VAR review. This was a frustrating moment for Ronaldo, who had been playing well throughout the game.
Al Nassr Fails to Find a Winner
Despite several attempts by Al Nassr to secure a second goal after the equalizer, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the Riyadh-based team with a frustrating result. The draw was a disappointing result for Al Nassr, who were hoping for a winning start to the season. This is a reminder that the Saudi Pro League will be a challenging competition for all teams. Al Nassr will need to improve their performance if they want to win the title this season.
Conclusion: A Disappointing Draw for Al Nassr
Al Nassr’s draw against Al Raed was a disappointing result, but it is important to remember that the season is still young. The team has a lot of talent, and they will be looking to bounce back in their next match. Ronaldo will be hoping for a much better performance in his next game as well.
The Impact of VAR
VAR, once again, played a significant role in the match. The technology is still relatively new, but it is already having a major impact on the game. It is clear that VAR is here to stay and it will continue to shape the future of football. It’s important for fans to understand how VAR works and what it can and cannot do. It's not perfect, but it is helping to improve the accuracy and fairness of the game.
