FOOTBALL – Abdullah Al Hamdan completed the comeback for Al Nassr, who triumphed 3-1 over Al Fayha to move top of the Saudi Pro League yesterday.
An Abdulelah Al Amri own goal had put Al Fayha in front just before the break, but Al Nassr completed a late turnaround, with Sadio Mane getting them started.
Al Nassr had started on the front foot and were awarded a penalty inside eight minutes when Mikel Villanueva caught Mohamed Simakan in the box, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s stuttering spot-kick struck the outside of the post.
Marcelo Brozovic and Kingsley Coman then both saw chances go begging before a poor clearance from Bento played Al Nassr into trouble, and Al Amri turned Mohammed Al Baqawi’s low cross into his own net in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
The visitors continued to push after the break, but did not find a way through until the 72nd minute when Coman put it on a plate for Mane to turn into an empty net.
Joao Felix then smashed a long-range effort off the crossbar eight minutes later, with the rebound hitting the unsuspecting Orlando Mosquera and bouncing into his own net.
But it was Al Hamdan who had the final say after a lovely one-two with Joao Felix, and he confidently slotted into the net to send Al Nassr two points clear of Al Ahli at the top.
Ronaldo will be relieved that his failure to convert from the spot did not cost his side dearly.
The Portuguese forward was disappointing and threw his arms around aimlessly for much of the game when things did not fall his way.
Ronaldo was then forced off late on after feeling something in his hamstring and watched as his replacement Al Hamdan added the third goal.
Elsewhere, fourth-place Al Qadsiah were held to a 1-1 draw with Al Taawoun.
Marin Petkov had given the visitors the lead, but Mateo Retegui salvaged a point from the spot in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
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