Ronaldo's Al Nassr drop points, six-goal thriller gets RSL under way

Al Taawoun 1-0 Al Fayha

A pinpoint Faycal Fajr delivery on his Al Taawoun debut helped hand Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s men the three points following a header from Abdulfattah Adam to sink Al Fayha late on in Buraidah to open the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League.

Al Fayha's Fashion Sakala had a golden opportunity to open his account inside seven minutes at Al Taawoun Club Stadium when he was sent through on goal from just after the halfway line following a fine Nawaf Al Harthi through ball. However, the Zambian striker’s finish was too central and Al Taawoun goalkeeper Mailson did well to stop it.

Nine minutes from time, the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Ibrahim Al Shuail saw red for stomping on Ali Al Hussain only 22 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Arruabarrena responded to the numerical disadvantage with a substitution, bringing on new signing Fajr for Musa Barrow. And it proved to be an inspired change as the Moroccan playmaker whipped in a cross from a set-piece on the right that was met by a powerful header from fellow substitute Abdulfattah Adam to win it for Al Taawoun five minutes into added time. With it, the hosts had registered the first goal of the new RSL season.

The three points get Al Taawoun’s journey off to a positive start before they travel to Jeddah to take on last season’s fifth-placed Al Ittihad. Meanwhile, Christos Kontis’ Al Fayha will face a difficult battle when they host Al Nassr in their second game as they try to open their account for the campaign.

Al Nassr 1-1 Al Raed

Cristiano Ronaldo’s thumping first-half header was not enough to spare Al Nassr the agony of beginning their 2024-25 league campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Al Raed.

Last season’s top goalscorer picked up exactly where he left off in May; Ronaldo came out flying to power in a header 34 minutes into the game at Al Awwal Park, leaving 22-year-old goalkeeper Meshari Sunyur helpless on his RSL debut. The Al Nassr captain’s first goal of the campaign was made possible by some quick feet from Sadio Mane down the left flank.

It marked Ronaldo’s 50th RSL goal, the Portuguese becoming the third-fastest player to reach that milestone - he did so in 49 matches. Only the league’s top two all-time top scorers, Omar Al Somah and Abderrazak Hamdallah, achieved it quicker.

Yet, four minutes after the restart, Al Nassr midfielder Abdullah Al Khaibari was put under pressure by Amir Sayoud, who snatched the ball and advanced through on goal. The Algerian’s left-footed finish was spilled by new signing Bento into the path of Mohammed Fouzair, but before the Moroccan could get to the ball, he was tugged by Aymeric Laporte, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.

Al Raed captain Fouzair stepped up and found the bottom corner to draw his side level. Not long before the finish, Ronaldo thought he had won the match, but he was deemed to have been fractions offside before he received Marcelo Brozovic's through ball.

The draw represented an important result for new Al Riyadh manager Odair Hellmann, the Brazilian managing the club in his first competitive fixture since joining from Al Riyadh during the summer.

Al Wehda 3-3 Al Riyadh

The pick of Thursday’s matches saw a six-goal thriller unfold at King Abdulaziz Sports City in Mecca.

Al Wehda's Odion Ighalo thought he had opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, only for his towering header to be parried away by Al Riyadh goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Minutes later, it was Ighalo’s attack partner Craig Goodwin who swept home the only goal of the first half, the Australian international getting on the end of an Alaa Al Hajji pull-back from the right to side-foot the ball into the back of the net.

With Al Wehda narrowly leading at the break, the game erupted into life in the second half with four more goals and a red card. Former Al Tai ace Bernard Mensah came on at half-time for his Al Riyadh debut, replacing veteran Nawaf Al Abed - and the Ghanaian wasted no time in making his mark. Six minutes into the second half, Mensah rose highest to head home a cross from fellow debutant Toze to draw the visitors level.

A minute later, Al Riyadh’s endeavours suffered a blow when defender Hussain Al Nowaiqi was dismissed for bringing down Ali Makki when he was the last defender between his rival and the goal.

Al Wehda instantly capitalised, and it was again Adelaide United legend Goodwin who struck for the home side. The Socceroo was in the right place to hammer home on the half-volley following a poor defensive clearance. 

Five minutes before the end of normal time, it was offered up for another debutant to get on the scoresheet. Toze’s cross from the corner was nodded on by Lucas Kal towards the far post, where Iraqi winger Ibrahim Bayesh met the ball with a spectacular volley into the back of the net to restore parity.

With stoppages in abundance, nearly a quarter of an hour was added to regular time, allowing for a thrilling finale. Murad Khadhari slid onto the path of a Goodwin cross from the left to sweep home what everyone thought was the winner for Al Wehda.

However, Sabri Lamouchi’s Al Riyadh still had one more goal in them. A swift passing move saw Mensah set up Kal 30 yards from goal, inviting the Brazilian midfielder to unleash a powerful drive that nestled in the back of the net deep into added time. Al Riyadh had rescued a point, the two sides sharing the spoils in a 3-3 draw.