Cristiano Ronaldo led nine-man Al-Nassr to their first ever Arab Club Champions Cup title after scoring twice in a 2-1 extra-time win over Al-Hilal on Saturday at the King Fahd Stadium, Sportivationng.com reports.
Ronaldo failed to land a trophy last season after his move to Al-Nassr, who finished runners-up in the Saudi Pro League, but the 38-year-old scored six times in the tournament to finish as its top scorer en route to the title.
CRISTIANO RONALDO AGAIN
HE IS NOT HUMAN 😭😭😭🐐🐐🐐🐐
https://t.co/2sbu6SSDpq— Akın (@ProudFede) August 12, 2023
The star-studded Al-Nassr side had many chances to score in the first half with new close season signings Sadio Mane, Seko Fofana and Marcelo Brozovic all denied by goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais.
BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo now has the most headed goals in Football history surpassing Gerd Muller pic.twitter.com/xbNCBI6PFv
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) August 12, 2023
The game remained scoreless until six minutes into the second half when Al-Hilal’s Malcom crossed the ball and found fellow Brazilian Michael, who put his side ahead with a free header.
To rub salt into their wounds, the 27-year-old even produced the Ronaldo goal celebration as he ran to the corner flag and leapt into the air.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
WHO ELSE BUT CLUTCHNALDO? GOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLL 🐐 pic.twitter.com/egkXm050yj
— aurora (@cr7stianos) August 12, 2023
That seemed to fire up Ronaldo and the Portugal captain equalised in the 74th minute when he got on the end of a low cross from right back Sultan Al-Ghannam to score for a fifth game in a row.
Al-Nassr also saw two players sent off in the second half seven minutes apart with defender Abdulelah Al-Amri and substitute Nawaf Boushal getting their marching orders, but they held on to take the game to extra time.
Cristiano Ronaldo gets the Golden Boot.
The top scorer of the tournament and the top scorer in football HISTORY 🐐pic.twitter.com/LjzEdLfbuY
— Noodle Vini (@vini_ball) August 12, 2023
Ronaldo then doubled the lead in the first half of extra time when he pounced on a rebound off the crossbar and headed home with the goalkeeper off his line.
CRISTIANO RONALDO LIFTING THE TITLE. HERE IS THE COMPLETE VIDEO ❤️
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) August 12, 2023
There were concerns, however, when Ronaldo was carted off the field with an apparent injury after a collision in the second period of extra time — just two days before their Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Ettifaq. (Reuters)
