Al Nasr beat Al Wahda 4-0 to maintain league lead
Ronaldo scored 5 goals in 3 league games, tied for 9th
Cristiano Ronaldo. File photo AP Yonhap News
The missed goal was scored all at once. Cristiano Ronaldo (38, Al-Nasr), who only scored one goal from a penalty kick after entering the Saudi Arabian league, scored a whopping four goals and showed off a ‘heavy ceremony’.
Ronaldo scored four goals alone in 61 minutes in an away match against Al Wahda in the Saudi Arabian Professional League in the 2022-23 season held at the King Abdulaziz Stadium in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on the 10th (Korean time).
It is the first time that Ronaldo, who has not been able to show performances worthy of his reputation, such as 1 EPL goal, 2 Europa League goals for his former team Manchester United (England) this season, 1 World Cup goal and 2 goals in the Nations League for Portugal national team. With this goal, Ronaldo recorded his 503rd personal career goal in the regular league game he played.
Al-Nasr, who won 4-0 thanks to Ronaldo’s performance, continued their 14-game unbeaten run in the league. Also, with 11 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss (37 points), the points were equal with Al Shabaab, who played one more game, but took the top spot in terms of goal difference. Al Wahda, who suffered three consecutive losses, is in 13th place with 4 wins, 3 draws and 9 losses (16 points).
Ronaldo aimed for Al Wahda’s goal from early on with a free kick, but was blocked by the defense. The goal started right after Al Wahda Gersón Rodriguez’s shot hit the post.
Ronaldo gave the ball back to Abdulrahman Garib in the 21st minute of the first half, penetrated the space to the left corner of the penalty box, received Garib’s forward pass again, and then kicked a low left footed shot aiming for the opposite goal post, and the ball was accurately put into the corner of the goal. In the last game against Al Fateh, he scored his debut goal to tie the score in extra time in the second half, which the team was losing, and he was delighted with his teammates by performing a ‘heavy rain ceremony’ that he did not show.
In the 40th minute of the first half, Ronaldo found space on the right side of the box, received a forward pass from Sami Al Nahei, and fired a right-footed shot through the gap between the goalkeeper’s legs. Ronaldo held a heavy rain ceremony again.
Ronaldo’s scoring streak continued in the second half. A penalty kick was declared for the opponent’s handball foul in the process of contention in the box. The kicker was Ronaldo. He kicked it lightly into the left corner. It was 8 minutes into the second half. The goalkeeper read the direction but the kick was too accurate. Ronaldo enjoyed the cheers of the crowd this time from the corner flag.
Eight minutes later, Ronaldo again dug into the space behind Al Wahda and had a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper. The first shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. Ronaldo calmly pushed the ball that bounced in front of him and once again showed off the heavy rain ceremony. Ronaldo, who scored 5 goals in 3 league games, was tied for 9th place in scoring.
Reporter Hong Ji-min