Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace to help Al-Nassr return to winning ways in the Saudi Pro League, defeating Damac 2-0 at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on Friday.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 17th minute, converting a penalty kick after Damac defender Abdelkader Bedrane handled the ball inside the box.
Despite Al-Nassr’s persistent efforts, the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
The match took a significant turn in the 56th minute when Bedrane received a red card for a harsh tackle on Mohamed Simakan, leaving Damac with 10 men.
The hosts capitalized on the numerical advantage, and Ronaldo sealed the win with his second goal. Nawaf Boushal’s overlapping run down the left flank created the opportunity for the Al Nas skipper who smashed the finish with his left foot.
The victory kept Al-Nassr in third place on the points table, but they reduced the gap between them and leaders Al Ittihad to just 5 points, albeit having played a game more.
