Sports News : Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo’s two brilliant goals still couldn’t save Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr from defeat. In a pre-season friendly on Sunday, La Liga 2 side UD Almeria stunned Al Nassr with a 3-2 victory.
The match started with an early setback for Al Nassr, as in the 6th minute Sergio Arribas scored from a pass by Leo Baptistao, giving Almeria the lead. However, their advantage didn’t last long. In the 11th minute, after a slick one-touch passing move between Ayman Yahya and Sadio Mane, Ronaldo fired in from inside the penalty box to level the score at 1-1.
Ronaldo continued to shine in the first half. After goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez fouled inside the box, Al Nassr were awarded a penalty. Ronaldo calmly converted it to put his team ahead 2-1. With this goal, Ronaldo reached a total of five goals in just two pre-season matches.
However, a major mistake by Al Nassr’s goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi changed the game’s momentum. In an attempt to intercept a pass outside the box, he misplaced the ball directly to Almeria’s Adrian Embarba, who easily slotted it into the empty net, making it 2-2.
In the second half, Al Nassr’s attack weakened after Ronaldo was substituted. Almeria seized the opportunity in the 73rd minute when Embarba struck again, this time converting a precise pass from Arribas to give Almeria a decisive 3-2 lead.
In the dying minutes, Al Nassr had a golden chance to equalize. Joao Felix received a low cross from the right but failed to connect for the final touch, leaving the team with a disappointing defeat.
For Al Nassr, this loss serves as a reminder that while Ronaldo’s personal form is exceptional, the overall team performance must improve. This pre-season fixture highlights areas that require urgent attention before the competitive season kicks off.
