Ronaldo, Talisca bag brace as Al Nassr brush aside Firmino's Al Ahli in 7 goal thriller
FootballRonaldo’s Al Nassr Coach Accepts Blame After Team’s 10 Game Winning Run Ends in Frustrating Draw
- Luis Castro blames himself for his side's draw with Abha in the Saudi League
- Prior to the match, Castro was adjudged the SPL coach of the month for September
- He would hope for an improved performance when his side take on Damac after the international break
Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro has shouldered the blame for his team's disappointing draw against Abha, which brought an end to their impressive 10-game winning streak.
Castro watched as his side surrendered a two-goal lead to settle for a draw against Abha, a team that had previously endured a four-game losing streak in the Saudi Pro League before facing the Knights of Najd.
The Riyadh-based giants entered the match as heavy favourites and lived up to expectations, scoring within three minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, and Otavio combined beautifully in the build-up, with the latter finishing the move to the delight of the home crowd, per The Times of India.
Things continued to look promising as Anderson Talisca doubled their lead shortly before the half-hour mark. However, a reckless challenge by Otavio gave Abha a lifeline, and they converted from the penalty spot just before halftime.
Ronaldo saw his goal ruled out for offside as Al-Nassr struggled to add to their tally. To make matters worse, former Olympique Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi equalized for the away side in stoppage time with a powerful strike from the edge of the area, Daily Sports reports.
The result leaves Al-Nassr in third place with 19 points. Following the end of the match, the 62-year-old Castro took responsibility for his team's uncharacteristic failure to secure maximum points.
“I am responsible for the loss of the two points, only me, not the players, the substitutes, or anyone else,” he admitted as quoted by TheNassrZone.
Despite the unfulfilling conclusion to their remarkable winning streak, the Portuguese coach expressed confidence that his team would bounce back stronger, with their sights firmly set on clinching the league title.
How Ronaldo led his Al Nassr teammates to celebrate with the fans after epic win vs Al Ahli: Video
Football“After 10 consecutive victories, we tasted stumbling and losing points, but that will not hinder our passion to continue to achieve the league title.”
Toko Ekambi ends Al-Nassr's winning run
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Cameroonian forward Karl Toko Ekambi scored an outrageous goal to deny Al Nassr victory in their Saudi Pro League game against Abha.
The former Olympique Lyonnais winger rescued a point late in the game for the visitors as well as ended the Knights of Najd's winning streak in the league.