Ten-man Al-Nassr secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Al-Ettifaq on Tuesday, completing a second-half comeback after Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted at halftime. The win propelled Al-Nassr to the top of the Saudi Pro League standings.
Al-Nassr faced significant challenges early in the match. Goalkeeper Bento was sent off in the 12th minute, leaving the team to play with 10 men. By halftime, Al-Nassr was down 2-0, with Ronaldo, making his first start since the World Cup, visibly frustrated as he left the pitch.
Manager Ange Postecoglou made the decision to substitute Ronaldo at the break, a move that proved instrumental in the team's turnaround. Postecoglou explained his decision, stating that he believed the players coming on could make an impact. He acknowledged Ronaldo's strong performance in the first half but emphasized the need for a different tactical approach given Ronaldo's recent lack of playing time.
Following the substitutions, Al-Nassr mounted a fierce second-half rally. Sadio Mane scored in the 77th minute, and Abdulelah Al Amri added another goal just three minutes later, leveling the score at 2-2. Mane then secured the winning goal in added time, completing the comeback.
This victory marks Al-Nassr's third consecutive win of the season. Postecoglou, who took over as Al-Nassr manager last month, expressed pride in his team's performance, highlighting the positive contributions of all the substitutes. Ronaldo, who recently married Georgina Rodriguez, has indicated that the current season may be his last as a player as he plans to focus more on his family.