· 2 min readIn this Al Nassr vs Al Kholood match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Al Nassr came into matchday 12 of the Saudi Pro League with a simple mission: win and, this time, convince. Ange’s side had been getting positive results, but their performances continued to raise doubts. On the other side was an Al Kholood team in crisis, having lost four games in a row. Against an opponent like this, a comfortable win was expected. What nobody expected was such a chaotic first half.
Al Kholood started fearlessly and stunned their opponents as early as the 16th minute. Al Dosari crossed for Julien Domingues, who controlled the ball and, without letting it drop, chipped Simakan before firing into the net. What a goal! Al Nassr were asleep at the wheel, and their opponents were taking full advantage. In fact, by the 20th minute, it was difficult to argue that Cristiano Ronaldo’s side were playing the better football.
The response came through individual brilliance. In the 24th minute, João Félix played a backheel one-two with Ângelo, who beat his defender and fired a low shot inside the far post. A superb goal, the kind that reminds you Ângelo has the quality to do much more than simply look for the right position. The equaliser, however, didn’t immediately change the game. Al Kholood continued to compete well, while Al Nassr seemed to be relying on individual moments.
In the 38th minute, the home side turned the game around. Boushal made an excellent run down the right and crossed towards the edge of the box. Félix and Mané both struck the ball poorly, but it eventually fell to the Senegalese forward, who scored with a touch of luck. Al Nassr were ahead, although their football offered little reason for confidence.
And the equaliser arrived just before half-time. Domingues found space behind the defence and set up Loïc Essomba, who arrived unmarked to tap the ball in. Ronaldo scored shortly afterwards, but the goal was ruled out for offside. At half-time, 2-2 was a fair scoreline. Al Kholood had been brave, clinical and far more organised than anyone would have expected.
In the second half, Al Nassr finally looked more like the team you’d expect to see with this much talent. João Félix continued to make the difference, Mané threatened, and Yahya forced an extraordinary save from Al-Shanqiti, who was just 21 years old. In the 66th minute, Félix found Ronaldo in the six-yard box, and the Portuguese striker made it 3-2. The 983rd goal of his career came without much celebration, as if there were still scores to settle.
Six minutes later, Ronaldo scored again. Félix beat his opponent on the right and crossed for an impressive header from the Portuguese forward. Ronaldo continues to show an absurd ability to leap. In the 81st minute, he completed his hat-trick, taking his career tally to 985 goals. He was in exactly the right place at the right time, finishing after Mané played a ball into his path. With four assists, Félix was decisive in a second half in which Al Nassr finally took control.
There was still time for Domingues to score from the penalty spot in the 90+4th minute, after an amateurish foul by Al-Nasser.
Post-match
The 5-3 scoreline confirms the win, but it doesn’t erase the doubts. Ronaldo was extraordinary and Félix shone, but conceding three goals against a team like this remains unacceptable. Al Nassr have the talent to compete for trophies. Now they need to play like a team that believes it.
