Al-Nassr vs Al-Raed 1-1: VAR denies Cristiano Ronaldo second goal – Match Hightlights

In their Saudi Pro League debut, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr were frustratingly held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Raed.

On Thursday, 2024/25, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League season got off to a dismal start as the video assistant referee disqualified what appeared to be his winning goal for Al-Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo is still scoring goals at the age of 39.

Cristiano Ronaldo puts Al-Nassr in the lead

After being humiliated by Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup final, Luis Castro’s team had something to prove. Ronaldo was determined to start the league season on a positive note. In the 34th minute, the Portuguese hero struck an incredible header to put his club ahead after Sadio Mane set him up with an impeccably placed cross from the left flank.

Cristiano Ronaldo stats in Al-Nassr

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who scored 35 goals in the previous season and set a league record, scored his opening goal of the current campaign in the 34th minute with a strong header from close range. Ronaldo’s goal was his 50th in 48 Saudi Pro League outings. The first half saw few and far between opportunities, and after halftime, Ronaldo’s goal was the deciding factor.

Equalizer for Al-Raed against Al-Nassr

That said, in the 48th minute, Al-Raed was awarded a penalty. Aymeric Laporte’s minuscule touch denied Mohamed Fouzair’s attempt to cling onto a defensive backpass, and the striker took full advantage of the contact inside the box.

Laporte was sent a red card by the referee, but VAR stepped in and changed it to a yellow card instead, awarding a penalty. To equalize for his team, Fouzair went up and placed the ball into the right corner past Bento’s grasp.

Denied by VAR, Cristiano Ronaldo second goal for Al-Nassr

Within five minutes of the restart, Al-Nassr sat up and put his foot on the gas. And when Ronaldo hit the net once more in the 75th minute, they were almost rewarded for their tenacity. However, a lengthy VAR check that occupied the whole intermission revealed that the striker was millimeters offside.

Deep into stoppage time in the second half, Al Nassr was refused a penalty for a handball, which further irritated Ronaldo and his squad. The referee examined the event on the pitch-side monitor. After leaving Manchester United in December 2022, Ronaldo joined Al Nassr and is still chasing his first big prize.