Al-Nassr Held to a Draw by Al-Ettifaq After Dramatic Match

Al-Nassr experienced a significant setback early in their match when left full-back Saad Fahad was initially shown a direct red card within the first five minutes for a severe foul. The Saudi international had made a reckless challenge on Madallah Alolayan, prompting the referee to issue the red card. However, following a review with VAR, the decision was reversed, and Fahad received a yellow card instead.

Al-Ettifaq took advantage of this reprieve and managed to score against the run of play. Club captain and former Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum delivered a stunning finish after receiving a through ball during a swift counter-attack. He executed a solo run into the penalty area and fired a long-range shot that found the back of the net.

After conceding the early goal, Al-Nassr launched an aggressive offensive but struggled to convert their efforts into shots on target. Ronaldo was active in the first half but failed to register any attempts on goal.

The dynamics shifted dramatically in the second half as Jorge Jesus’ side came out revitalized. Within just one minute, they equalized; former Chelsea player Angelo Gomes cut in from the left and assisted Felix, who scored with a well-placed ground shot from the edge of the box.

Seven minutes after the hour mark, Ronaldo finally made his mark on the game, albeit inadvertently. Al-Nassr took the lead when Felix’s shot was deflected off Ronaldo’s back and into the net.

However, the joy was short-lived as Wijnaldum secured his second goal of the match, delivering a clinical finish that earned Al-Ettifaq a vital point and ended Al-Nassr’s impressive 10-match winning streak in the Saudi Pro League.

On a night where both Ronaldo and Felix were on the scoresheet, it was Wijnaldum who truly shone, leading his team with two exceptional goals. The Dutch midfielder’s performance inspired Al-Ettifaq to fight back and secure a draw.

Inigo Martinez, a former Barcelona defender, had a challenging night, being culpable for both of Wijnaldum’s goals, particularly the first, where he failed to effectively mark the Dutchman as he approached the penalty area.