· 2 min readIn this Al Faisaly vs Al Nassr match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Al Nassr came into matchday 11 of the Saudi Pro League after a narrow win over NEOM, in a game where Ronaldo wasted several chances. Against a newly promoted Al Faisaly side with clear limitations in individual quality, much more was expected than a narrow victory. The aim should have been to impose their superior quality and score several goals. And despite the 3-1 win, the performance was far from convincing.
In the fourth minute, Mané found Al-Hamdan in the middle, and the striker received the ball in space before firing a low shot to make it 0-1. It wasn’t a particularly powerful effort, and Pacheco could have done better.
Al Nassr started as expected, but the lead brought an excessive sense of comfort. The team stopped playing with urgency, while Al Faisaly tried to reach the opposition goal mainly through long balls, with little success.
The problem was the visitors’ lack of attacking quality. By the 26th minute, Al Faisaly had 56% possession, something difficult to imagine before the game. Al Nassr managed to combine through Félix, Al-Hamdan and Mané, but there was no continuity, and Félix kept giving the ball away, with little understanding between him and Ronaldo.
With temperatures at 33 degrees in Harmah and several stoppages for fouls, the game was dragging on. Even so, the heat doesn’t explain everything: there was a lack of intensity, creativity and desire to get the match settled.
Ronaldo came close to changing things in the 32nd minute, when he received the ball from Félix on the left, beat his marker and sent a shot across goal against the post. It was the best attacking moment of a very poor first half. Al Faisaly finished the half with seven shots, but none on target, while Al Nassr managed just one shot on target, their goal. Overall, there had been more fouls than shots. It was difficult to expect much excitement from anyone watching.
The second half began differently. In the 49th minute, Félix delivered a free-kick from the side and Ronaldo rose to head the ball against the post, with it going in after a slight deflection. It was the 982nd official goal of his career. Three minutes later, he scored again, this time after a pass from Al-Hamdan, but the goal was ruled out for his teammate’s offside. Suddenly, Al Nassr finally seemed willing to play football.
That improvement, however, didn’t last. In the 66th minute, Mohammed Al Shanqiti crossed from the left and newly introduced Théo Bongonda produced an excellent header to pull one back. Al Faisaly started believing again, and Postecoglou’s side slipped back into the problems they had shown in the first half. By the 77th minute, Al Nassr had just 0.35 expected goals. Against an opponent of this level, that is a frankly disappointing figure.
In the 79th minute, a well-worked move finally arrived. Ronaldo waited for the right moment before crossing for Al-Hamdan, who controlled the ball on his chest and laid it off for Ângelo to strike first time, placing the ball just inside the far post. The 1-3 scoreline brought some relief, but Al-Hamdan went off limping shortly afterwards, a concern for the team.
Late in the game, Mendy even headed against the crossbar, a reminder that Al Faisaly hadn’t given up.
Post-match
Al Nassr won, but failed to convince. Against a side fighting to stay up, spending so much time creating no danger and allowing the game to remain open is worrying. The result will do; the performance won’t.
