Ronaldo dazzles with brace and missed penalty as Al-Nassr defeat Al-Khaleej 3-1 in cup semi-final
Cristiano Ronaldo notched two goals and conceded a penalty to Sadio Mane, propelling Al-Nassr to the King Cup of Champions finale.
Ronaldo found the net before and after halftime to secure victory over Al-Khaleej 3-1, setting up a final showdown with Al-Hilal. The King Cup of Champions semi-final saw Al-Hilal defeat Al-Ittihad 2-1 the day before.
The seasoned star capitalized on a mistake by the opponent’s keeper, Ibrahim Sehic, scoring in the 17th minute and completing a brace shortly before the hour mark.
Despite an opportunity to secure a hat-trick from a first-half penalty, Ronaldo opted to pass on the spot-kick after Ivo Rodrigues’ handball, with Sadio Mane converting the penalty.
Al-Khaleej’s Fawaz Al Terais managed a late goal, offering scant consolation in a lopsided contest where Al-Nassr dominated with 21 shots and 3.78 expected goals (xG) compared to their rivals’ nine shots and 1.37 xG.
Data reveals Ronaldo bounced back from a recent dry spell, delivering an impressive performance against Al-Khaleej by scoring two crucial goals.
Though recording the fewest touches among starters for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo managed seven shots, including five from inside the box, and four successful dribbles.
