Al-Nassr secured a dramatic 3-2 victory against Al-Ettifaq in their midweek Saudi Pro League fixture, overcoming both a two-goal deficit and a numerical disadvantage. Despite being reduced to ten men early in the contest, the Knights of Najd maintained their perfect start to the 2026-27 campaign, marking their third consecutive league win.
The match took a difficult turn for the visitors just 13 minutes in when goalkeeper Bento was shown a red card for a foul. Al-Ettifaq capitalized on the situation in the 31st minute as Ondrej Duda scored past 18-year-old substitute goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi. Alvaro Medran extended the lead to 2-0 during first-half stoppage time, with his strike slipping through the young goalkeeper’s gloves.
Cristiano Ronaldo made his first start of the season for manager Ange Postecoglou’s side, following his goal in the previous 4-0 win over Al-Riyadh. However, the 41-year-old struggled to make an impact during his 45 minutes on the pitch. Ronaldo completed only three passes and recorded a single shot on target from seven touches. Visibly frustrated, he headed to the dressing room at half-time with his team trailing by two goals.
The second half saw a complete shift in momentum as Sadio Mane took center stage. The former Liverpool forward sparked the comeback in the 74th minute, and Abdulelah Al-Amri leveled the score just three minutes later. Mane then completed the turnaround in the 90th minute, securing a hard-fought win for the ten-man side.
Following the match, fans took to social media to praise Mane for his decisive performance. Supporters described him as the player who consistently carries the team, with many highlighting his ability to step up when needed. Conversely, some fans criticized Ronaldo’s performance, suggesting the team improved significantly after he was substituted at the break.
The victory serves as a testament to Al-Nassr’s resilience under pressure. While the early red card and the two-goal deficit threatened their unbeaten record, the team’s collective effort, spearheaded by Mane’s late-game heroics, ensured they walked away from Dammam with all three points. The report also notes that carrying this Al-Nassr team as always” – Fans hail Cristiano Ronaldo’s mate as they complete comeback win despite playing with 10 men. The report also notes that cristiano Ronaldo made his first start of the season for Ange Postecoglou’s side as they sought to extend their 100% record since the start of the campaign. The report also notes that accusing him of holding the team back, one fan took a swipe at Cristiano Ronaldo. The report also notes that another fan claimed that Ronaldo was taken off for ‘ghosting’ and Mane led the team to victory in his absence. The report also notes that it was no surprise to see Ondrej Duda rifle home an effort past 18-year-old substitute goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi after 31 minutes.
