Cristiano Ronaldo scores free-kick to help Al-Nassr claim a crucial win over Abha and maintain their Saudi title push… with the Portuguese star’s last set-piece strike coming for Juventus in July 2020!
Cristiano Ronaldo helped to inspire Al-Nassr to an important 2-1 win over Abha on Saturday, by scoring a rare free kick.
Al-Nassr were attempting to keep up the pace with Saudi Pro League table-toppers Al-Ittihad, who beat Ronaldo’s side 1-0 last week.
Earlier on Saturday Al-Ittihad thrashed Al-Fateh 5-1 and Al-Nassr were losing 1-0 with just 12 minutes to go and faced the prospect of dropping four points behind their rivals.
However, Ronaldo stepped up to score an audacious free kick from 30 yards out to level the game, before Brazilian star Anderson Talisca netted a penalty four minutes from time to complete the turnaround.
Ronaldo – was has never been afraid to step up to take set pieces with his iconic stance – ended a drought of nearly three years without scoring from a free kick in the process.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a free-kick to help Al-Nassr claim a crucial win over Abha
Despite the five-time Ballon d’Or winner having a sensational record earlier in his career, with Saturday’s goal being his 56th from a free kick, he has struggled over recent years.
His last successful free kick came for Juventus back on July 4 2020 when he fired home in a 4-1 victory over Torino.
He failed to score a free kick during his second spell with Manchester United and will be delighted to have regained some prolificacy against Abha.
Since his eye-watering move to Rudi Garcia’s side, Ronaldo has now scored nine goals in eight Saudi Pro League games.
With nine game of the season to go, they remain one point behind Al-Ittihad, who are managed by former Tottenham and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
The win vs Abha helped Al-Nassr and Ronaldo maintain their title push in the Saudi Pro League.
source: dailymail.co.uk
