Ronaldo’s Goal Secures Pioli’s Debut Win; Toney Scores First Saudi Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo shone brightly as Al Nassr triumphed over Al Ettifaq with a convincing 3-0 victory. This match also marked the debut of new head coach Stefano Pioli, who celebrated a successful start to his tenure at the Saudi Arabian club.

PioIi, who previously guided AC Milan to a Serie A title in 2022, was appointed to the role on Wednesday. His arrival followed the dismissal of Luis Castro, who was let go after Al Nassr’s sluggish beginning to the season, managing only one win in their first three Saudi Pro League encounters.

Ronaldo, sidelined during Al Nassr’s recent 1-1 draw against Al-Shorta of Iraq due to a viral infection, did not take long to make his mark. He opened the scoring for Al Nassr in the 33rd minute by converting a penalty kick, marking his third goal of the season.

The second half saw Al Nassr extend their lead as Salem Al-Najdi and Anderson Talisca found the back of the net, solidifying the team’s performance and ensuring a comfortable win.

This result was a significant setback for Al Ettifaq, whose coach, Steven Gerrard, experienced his first defeat of the season. Despite this loss, Al Ettifaq remained positioned third in the league table while Al Nassr climbed to fourth place.

Meanwhile, Al Ahli’s strong performance kept them in contention for the top spots as they secured a 4-2 victory over Damac, aided by a remarkable display from Ivan Toney. Toney, who joined from English Premier League side Brentford in August, provided the assist for Gabri Veiga’s opener before scoring his first two goals in the Saudi league.

Former Liverpool star Roberto Firmino also contributed to Al Ahli’s victory by scoring a goal. With these results, the league standings remained competitive, with Al Hilal and Al Ittihad currently at the top, set to face each other in an anticipated matchup on Saturday.

The early stages of the Saudi Pro League continue to unfold with exciting matchups and performances that capture the attention of fans worldwide.

Source: The Associated Press