Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr suffered a significant blow to their Saudi Pro League title aspirations with a 2-1 away defeat to Al Orobah at Al Jouf University Stadium in Sakakah on Saturday. The loss leaves Al Nassr nine points adrift of league leaders Al Ittihad, who also have a game in hand.
The match began at a brisk pace, with both teams displaying attacking intent. Ronaldo linked up well with Angelo Gomes, but Jhon Duran, returning from a one-game suspension, appeared out of form.
Al Orobah took the lead five minutes before halftime. Veteran forward Omar Al Soma finished off a well-worked move, placing the ball into the bottom right corner from the right side of the box. Al Soma had earlier threatened with a spectacular overhead kick that narrowly missed the target.
Al Nassr responded immediately after the break, with substitute Nawaf Boushal scoring the equalizer. Manager Stefano Pioli’s halftime change proved impactful, injecting renewed confidence into the visiting side.
However, Al Orobah regained the lead in the 65th minute with a stunning strike from Johann Berg Gudmundsson. The Icelandic midfielder unleashed a powerful left-footed shot that found the top right corner, leaving Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento with no chance.
Ten minutes prior to Gudmundsson’s goal, Ronaldo missed a golden opportunity to equalize, shooting wide with only the goalkeeper to beat after a precise pass from Angelo.
Al Nassr pushed for a late equalizer, but Al Orobah produced a resilient defensive performance to secure their first-ever league victory over the Riyadh-based club. The defeat represents a major setback for Al Nassr’s title challenge, leaving them with a significant gap to overcome in the remaining fixtures. Al-Orobah, on the other hand, celebrate an upset.
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