Cristiano Ronaldo made the most of both awful defending and a plume of smoke to set Al-Nasr on the way to a 4-3 victory against Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.
With just four minutes on the clock, Ronaldo gave his side the perfect start against an Al-Ahli side that included Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Portuguese forward collected a Sadio Mane pass before capitalising on some poor defending and slotting past the goalkeeper through a plume of smoke following some pre-game pyrotechnics – despite not being able to see the goal.
Ronaldo celebrated in trademark style after notching his seventh goal of the season, and he later found the net again to secure the win for his side.
Former Benfica midfielder Anderson Talisca bagged himself a brace either side of ex-AC Milan man Frank Kessie pulling a goal back for Al-Ahli in the first half.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his seventh and eighth goals of the Saudi Pro League season to help Al-Nasr to a 4-3 win against Al-Ahli
The forward’s first goal came in bizarre circumstances as he fired home through a cloud of smoke
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Riyad Mahrez then scored his second goal for Al-Ahli since joining from Manchester City, slotting home an early second-half penalty.
Ronaldo snuffed out any hope of a comeback just two minutes later when he notched his second goal of the evening from a Talisca assist.
Firas Al Buraikan pulled a late goal back for Al-Ahli but it was not enough to deny Al-Nasr and Ronaldo the victory.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star now has eight goals in just five appearances, helping Al-Nasr to a four-game winning run that has brought them back in to title contention.
They now sit just three points behind Nuno Espirito Santo’s league-leading Al-Ittihad side.
Al-Nasr overcame an Al-Ahli side that included former Premier League stars Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino
The night belonged to Ronaldo as he helped his side continue a four-game winning run
Al-Ittihad took top spot on Friday from Neymar‘s Al-Hilal after beating Al-Fateh 2-1 thanks to a goal and an assist from N’Golo Kante.
Neither Neymar nor Aleksandar Mitrovic were able to find the net for the former league leaders, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Damac, who are yet to pick up a win this season.
There was a victory for Steven Gerrard‘s Al-Ettifaq, as they beat Al Tai 4-3. Former Celtic striker Mousa Dembele helped himself to a brace, with Georginio Wijnaldum also notching two goals.
Gerrard’s side, who are captained by former Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson, sit fourth in the early league table – one point ahead of Ronaldo and Al-Nasr.
