Al-Nassr were stunned by a second half comeback from Al-Ettifaq, losing 3-2 in the Saudi Pro League, hugely denting any lingering title hopes.
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Al-Nassr suffer damaging 3-2 lossAl-Ettifaq complete comeback winFive goals in the second halfFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE
Al-Nassr spent most of the first half camped inside Al-Ettifaq territory, but were unable to make that dominance count – Cristiano Ronaldo went closest, forcing a handful of good saves out of Marek Rodak. It was 0-0 at the interval, but Al-Ettifaq had been so close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, hitting the post and Bento making a double save one after the other in stoppage time.
There was a huge slice of luck about Ayman Yahya's breakthrough less than two minutes after the restart, the ball cannoning off the Al-Nassr winger's head as Al-Ettifaq tried to clear Sadio Mane's cross. A VAR check allowed a Georginio Wijnaldum equaliser to stand after an offside flag had initially ruled it out, with Yahya then seeing an immediate response chalked out at the other end.
Al-Nassr looked good for the win when Mohammed Al-Fatil scored a free header to restore the lead, only for the centre-back to then turn the ball into his own net in the closing stages. It still went from bad to worse for Ronaldo & Co. after that, with Wijnaldum grabbing an 89th-minute winner on the counter attack and Jhon Duran sent off for a petty swipe at an opponent in stoppage time.
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Georginio Wijnaldum rolled back the years in this one. The former Liverpool midfielder is 34 now, but he scored two very good goals here, breaking forward from midfield to round Bento for the first and keeping up with the play to finish off a swift break for the decisive second.
THE BIG LOSER
Mohammed Al-Fatil had a rollercoaster night, but ultimately a very bad one. He was the player at fault when Al-Ettifaq equalised the first time, miscontrolling a simple ball that squeezed under his foot and made its way through to Wijnaldum. He made amends by putting Al-Nassr back in front, but the own goal brought Al-Ettifaq level for the second time and irreversibly swung the momentum against his team.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
If Al-Nassr are to have any chance of staying in the title race, they desperately need a favour from Al-Hilal on Saturday night. The champions, currently second, are up against leaders Al-Ittihad, who have a healthy lead at the top of the table. Victory for them in that game would certainly end Al-Nassr's hopes of catching up, already eight points off the pace, and probably be close to a deathly blow to Al-Hilal as well.
