Al-Nassr Saved By The Last-Minute: Draw Against Al-Ahli in Thrilling Saudi Pro League Match

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If you tuned in to Bongdalu yesterday, you definitely witnessed how Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli’s Saudi League Pro clash ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw.

A goal from Frank Kessié in the second half put a lot of pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr as they were on the verge of losing. However, the match ended when Bassam Al-Hurayji’s own goal saved Al-Nassr in the 100th minute. A last-minute twist nobody expected.

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Al-Nassr Started Strong But Ended The First Half Goalless

With Cristiano Ronaldo, Anderson Talisca, and Sadio Mané on the field, you’d think they are up for an early score. Al-Nassr almost landed their first goal when Mané got a chance for a clear shot but fell short leaving fans frustrated. Al-Nassr had control of the ball, with intense attacking and pushing for that goal to happen.

Marcelo Brozovic took a shot with a long-range kick after Mané’s failed attempt but Edouard Mendy, Al-Ahli’s goalkeeper effortlessly blocked the ball. Despite having control on the field, Al-Nassr has struggled to convert their chances into scores. Mendy showed Al-Ahli his worth as one of the club’s newest summer signings with a remarkable presence in the box and his quick reflexes putting Al-Nassr attackers in frustration.

While Al-Nassr is having a hard time getting a goal despite multiple tries, Al-Ahli focused on their strong defense waiting for the right moment to attack.

Unlike Al-Nassr who are known for their dominance in ball possession, Al-Ahli still showed they can put pressure on Al-Nassr. The first half ended with both teams failing to get even a single goal.

Franck Kessié’s Goal During the Second Half Pressured Al-Nassr

Al-Ahli started shifting their energy to finding a way to score. Putting more effort into their attacks eventually resulted in the game’s first goal by Franck Kessié in the 57th minute of the match. It was Al-Ahli’s moment of victory with a lead against Al-Nassr’s star-studded lineup.

Kessié’s perfect curling shot was assisted by Feras Al-Buraikan coming from the penalty area. Bento Matheus, Al-Nassr’s goalkeeper was left without an option of blocking that shot. Kessié’s curling shot was not only a sign of his skills but also Al-Ahli’s way of showing their confidence in facing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. With the game in favor of Al-Ahli, the pressure for Al-Nassr to win or just level the score has doubled.

The odds seem to be not in favor of Al-Nassr as the home crowd was left shocked knowing their team has been aggressive and possessive in so many ways during the match and now their the ones chasing. Al-Ahli’s lead forced Al-Nassr attackers to double their efforts to score a goal. Ronaldo and his team had to push those attacks as much as they could but Mendy ruled the box and was able to block all of them.

Al-Nassr Struggles To Find A Chance To Goal Against Al-Ahli

As the time was about to run out, Al-Nassr started to get more intense finding the perfect chance to score. They attempted multiple attacks from different angles in the hope of leveling the game. Despite the efforts of Mané, Talisca, and Ronaldo, they kept struggling and failing to break the solid defense of Al-Ahli.

Ronaldo was surrounded by Al-Ahli defenders and did not give him a chance to find a way to goal. The pressure kept adding for Al-Nassr as the game was about to end and Mané once again failed to successfully hit the net with his attempt.

During the last 15 minutes, Al-Nassr had been attacking non-stop hoping to tie the score but Al-Ahli refused to lower their guard and proceeded to solidify their defense even more to try and secure the victory.

It was a heart-wrenching twist for Al-Ahli who fought with their might to defend the lead hoping for the spoiled victory. As for Al-Nassr, it was a lucky day for them to get that unexpected goal from the opponent. And as the final whistle blew, both teams went home feeling differently.

Conclusion

The match’s result was a relief for Al-Nassr avoiding a loss that would tarnish their reputation in the league. Given their multiple attempts to goal despite having control of the field, their powerful dominance was evident until that last moment trying to make a goal.

For Al-Ahli, disappointment is just the tip of the ice of what they are feeling after the unexpected twist. The goal from Kessié’ was more than enough to give them a big advantage against Al-Nassr. Despite the game’s result, there are a few things Al-Ahli should learn from the game like even a team with seasoned star players will have a hard time if they get their heads into the game but a twist of fate can turn the tables in no time. It’s always about focus, dedication, and perseverance.

Kessié did great consistently putting his heart to the game after a year of joining Al-Ahli. Mendy’s solid defense also put a lot of pressure on Al-Nassr despite the multiple attacks thrown at him. He did a great job blocking those goal attempts. They would have easily taken the victory if not for that unfortunate kick by Al-Hurayji.

As the Saudi Pro League continues, have to learn and improve from this match. Al-Nassr’s focus should be on converting their chances to real scores while Al-Ahli needs to work on avoiding defense mistakes on the field. As both teams aim for the top slot of their league table, they still have a lot more to go to prove they deserve to be on top.

Watch out for the next fixtures for Al-Ahli on September 20 against Damac and for Al-Nassr, on September 21, with Al-Ettifaq. Experience the intensity and thrill with Bongdalu and get real-time scores in 3D experience. What’s the most exciting part is both teams will clash again on February 13, 2025. Get updated with the latest fixture schedules, news, trade issues, and gossip of your favorite clubs or leagues on Bongdalu.