Cristiano Ronaldo Triumphs Under Pressure, Notches Key Goal as Al-Nassr Defeat Al-Ettifaq in the SPL

Al-Nassr defeated Al-Ettifaq 3-0 in the Saudi Pro League. Opening the goal from the penalty mark at the 33rd minute, Cristiano Ronaldo followed by Salem Al-Najdi at 56' and Talisca at 70'- guaranteeing the victory. Al-Nassr had a remarkable 56% possession using 14 shots and 7 on target. Al-Ettifaq, meanwhile, just managed 6 shots, 2 on target and battled to retain possession with 44%. Al-Nassr booked one player and Al-Ettifaq two, so the game resulted with three yellow cards. Al-Nassr's victory raises them to the fourth place in the League; Al-Ettifaq stays in the third place following three wins in their past five games.

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Cristiano Ronaldo scores to propel Al-Nassr to beat Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring as Al-Nassr defeated Ettifaq 3-0, giving Stefano Pioli victory in his first game as coach of the Saudi Arabian club on Friday. On Wednesday, Luis Castro appointed the Italian to succeed him. Al-Nassr's slow start to the season, with just one win in three Saudi Pro League games, led to the dismissal of the Portuguese coach the previous day.

Ronaldo, who missed Al-Nassr’s 1-1 draw in the AFC Champions League Elite with Al-Shorta of Iraq on Monday due to a viral infection, fired home from the penalty spot after 33 minutes for his third goal of the season.

In the second half, Salem Al-Najdi and Anderson Talisca added to the scoreline.

The defeat was the first this season for Ettifaq but the team coached by Steven Gerrard stayed third. Al-Nassr moved to fourth.

After two goals from Ivan Toney, Al-Ahli was in fifth, helping the Jeddah club beat Damac 4-2.

Toney, signed from English Premier League club Brentford in August, made the opener for Gabri Veiga before scoring his first goals since the move to Saudi.

Former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino scored the other.

Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad are first and second in the standings and meet on Saturday.

(With AP inputs)