Cristiano Ronaldo’s stellar performance powers Al-Nassr to 8-0 victory over Abha in Saudi Pro League encounter on Tuesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo showcased his brilliance with his 65th career hat-trick during the first half, leading Al-Nassr to a dominant win.
The match highlighted a significant gap in quality between the two teams, with the visitors asserting control from the beginning.
The Portuguese sensation opened the scoring line with his first of two free-kick goals in the 11th minute, capitalizing on a foul on Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem just outside the box. Ronaldo’s low free-kick found its way past a helpless Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Just 10 minutes later, he struck again from a set-piece, this time from a distance of nearly 20 yards, as his precise shot pierced through the defensive wall and nestled into the top corner.
The 39-year-old veteran shifted roles to assist Sadio Mane, who scored with a simple tap-in. Continuing his stellar performance, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid icon completed his hat-trick with a composed lob over Tatarusanu in the 42nd minute, taking advantage on a quick counter-attack. Just before halftime, Ronaldo provided his second assist of the match, setting up Al-Sulaiheem for the team’s fifth goal.
Despite the veteran star being substituted at half-time, Al-Nassr continued their dominance against a struggling Abha side, scoring three more goals to seal the emphatic victory. Abdulrahman Ghareeb and a double from Abdulaziz Al-Aliwa added to the tally, culminating in 8-0 win and a memorable performance for the visiting team.
Despite the win, Al-Nassr is still in second, 12 points behind runaway leader Al-Hilal with eight games remaining.
Earlier in the day, Al-Hilal revealed that striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is second only to Ronaldo with 22 goals, is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to injury.
Ronaldo emerged as the clear MVP of the game, even though he only played for 45 minutes. In that brief time were he was able to score three goals and provide assists for two more, showcasing his remarkable impact on the match.
Luis Castro’s side will next be in action on Friday as they take on Damac in another away league encounter.
