Video: Ruthless Ronaldo bags hattrick for Al Nassr in 45 minutes
FootballCristiano Ronaldo’s Goal Scoring Run Comes to an End but Al Nassr Seal Dramatic Comeback Win
- Cristiano Ronaldo was not among the goal scorers as Al-Nassr secured a dramatic win
- Despite blanking against Al-Batin, the 38-year-old forward received his February Player of the Month award before the match
- Goals from Ghareeb, Al Fatil and substitute Mohammed Maran ensured Al-Nassr reclaimed the top spot
Cristiano Ronaldo's goal-scoring run came to a crashing halt as Al-Nassr secured a dramatic 3-1 victory against rock-bottom Al-Batin on Friday evening at MrSool Park.
The 38-year-old suffered somewhat of an anticlimax in a game billed to crown his remarkable performance in the month of February, which was sealed with the Player of the Month award.
Having gone unbeaten in the previous month, Al-Nassr, buoyed by a vociferous home crowd, began the fixture as overwhelming favourites considering the visitors had won only one game all season.
However, Al-Batin stunned their hosts with their first attempt at goal when Uruguayan forward Renzo Lopez Patron rose highest to nod home the game's opener.
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Patron's goal sparked a flurry of attack from Al-Nassr spearheaded by Ronaldo, who was denied by a timely goal-line clearance as the home side went into the break a goal down.
Coach Rudi Garcia shuffled his cards after recess, introducing Al Sulaiheem and Mohammed Maran as replacements for Al Khaibari and Masharipov respectively.
His changes yielded the needed effect as Al-Nassr finally found a way past the resolute Al-Batin defence through playmaker Abdulrahman Ghareeb in stoppage time.
The home side was rewarded for their persistent probing as two late goals deep into additional time turned the game in favour of Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo excluded from greatest XI
Meanwhile, Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazario has snubbed ex-Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo when selecting his greatest eleven players ever.
Here are the football stars who showed Ronaldo love after his second hattrick for Al-Nassr
FootballA three-time FIFA Player of the Year and one of the most lethal forwards of the 90s and early 2000s, the Selecao legend absolutely lit it up for some of the best clubs in Europe throughout his career.
A big omission from the XI was his namesake, Cristiano Ronaldo, who he named on the bench instead.
Ghareeb copies Modric's trademark pass
Sports Brief previously reported that Cristiano Ronaldo hogged the headlines once again as Al-Nassr brushed aside Damac in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.
Despite Ronaldo dominating the headlines primarily for bagging his second hat trick in his last three matches, one of his teammates has been singled out for his sublime skill.
Abdulrahman Ghareeb played an instrumental role in Al-Nassr's thumping win to consolidate their position on the league log.