Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first Al Nassr goal with late penalty to salvage draw against Al Fateh

ByTNT Sports

Updated 03/02/2023 at 20:17 GMT

Cristiano Ronaldo opened his Al Nassr account with a last-gasp penalty in a 2-2 draw against Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Nassr twice trailed against sixth-placed Al Fateh. The draw leaves them top of the table on goal difference from Al Shabab FC having played a game fewer than their fellow Riyadh-based club. Ronaldo and Al Nassr’s next league fixture is against Al Wehda FC on Thursday.

Ronaldo scores his first Al Nassr goal

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 702nd club goal of his career and his first for Al Nassr in his side’s 2-2 draw against Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League.

The draw – which saw Rudi Garcia's side come from behind twice - sees Al Nassr top of the table on goal difference from fellow Riyadh-based club, Al Shabab FC.

Cristian Tello, formerly of Barcelona, Real Betis and Los Angeles FC, gave the hosts the lead with 12 minutes gone after goalkeeper Agustin Rossi’s unorthodox attempt to deal with a low cross dropped on the edge of the box. Tello kept his composure to volley home.

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However, Anderson Talisca, the league’s leading scorer, added a 13th of the campaign when he side-footed home from the edge of the box to restore parity two minutes shy of the interval. Jacob Rinne in the Al Fateh goal cut a frustrated figure as he rather let the effort through his body.

Sofiane Bendebka stunning volley re-gave the hosts the lead and had looked to have sealed all three points as the match crept towards a conclusion.

Ronaldo had endured a frustrating afternoon. He had one effort ruled out for offside, missed a gilt-edged chance and also hit the crossbar before the chance of redemption came in the dying embers of the match when the referee pointed to the spot.

The 37-year-old waited for Rinne to commit before lifting the ball into the net to secure a valuable point.

Next up for Ronaldo and Al Nassr, a match against Al Wehda FC on Thursday, but they will be without Talisca, who saw red late.

Ronaldo’s first for Al Nassr came after five for Sporting Lisbon, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus and 450 for Real Madrid.

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