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TELL ME MORE
Al-Nassr were guilty of wasting a hatful of chances in an entertaining first half. Talisca scuffed an early chance wide, before Ronaldo fired the hosts in front after 17 minutes with a fierce low shot that just beat goalkeeper Jacob Rinne. Ronaldo, who was embarrassed by his son’s line-up snub before the game started, could have scored more goals but wasted a series of headers, and his misses initially proved costly as Al Fateh levelled on the half-hour. A free-kick swung into the area was cleared only as far as the edge of the box, where it was met cleanly by Salem Al-Najdi who smashed a shot through a throng of bodies and into the net.
Al Fateh ought to have scored again at the start of the second half. Cristian Tello’s low cross was cleared only as far as Djaniny, who volleyed onto the post. The visitors then thought they’d won a penalty when Mourad Batna went down under a challenge in the box but saw their appeals waved away. Al-Nassr made the most of the reprieve to go on and win the game in some style. Sultan Al-Ghannam raced down the right and delivered an inviting cross for Otavio to direct a flying header into the top corner.
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THE MVP
Ronaldo didn’t have his greatest game by any means against Al Fateh but still delivered a crucial contribution as his side secured all three points. A powerful swing of the boot fired Al-Nassr into the lead and saw the Portuguese superstar running to the crowd in delight. He was, inevitably, involved in the winning goal too. The former Manchester United forward spotted the run of Sultan Al-Ghannam down the flank and played in the full-back to cross for Otavio to head home the winner.
THE BIG LOSER
Al-Nassr goalkeeper Raghed Al-Najjar had been handed a chance in the first team after injury to David Ospina and with Nawaf Al-Aqidi suspended. However, Al-Najjar was forced off with an injury midway through the first half and looked fairly emotional as he departed proceedings. His departure will be a big blow to Al-Nassr, with the team now effectively down to their fourth-choice keeper in Waleed Abdullah.
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WHAT COMES NEXT?
Al-Nassr switch their focus away from the Saudi Pro League and back to the AFC Champions League next. They take on Al-Feiha in the second leg of their last-16 tie, leading 1-0 from the first leg.
