Cristiano Ronaldo powers dwelling a trademark header within the dying minutes in opposition to Zamalek to safe a draw for Al-Nassr and guide spot in Arab Membership Champions Cup quarter-final… as Sadio Mane makes his debut
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Cristiano Ronaldo powers dwelling a trademark header within the dying minutes in opposition to Zamalek to safe a draw for Al-Nassr and guide spot in Arab Membership Champions Cup quarter-final… as Sadio Mane makes his debut
- Former United participant donned the captain’s armband for event look
- Mane took to the pitch from the bench within the second half after Bayern switch
- The Senegal star joins Al-Nassr after an tough single season within the Bundesliga
Cristiano scored his 840th objective in some model as he helped Saudi Professional League facet Al-Nassr guide their place within the Arab Membership Champions Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Real Madrid and Manchester United icon netted his second objective of the event in opposition to Egyptian opponents Zamalek, after breaking his breaking his pre-season drought against Al-Monastir in his facet’s 4-1 victory on Monday.
Al-Nassr discovered themselves behind on the King Fafd Stadium in Ta’if, Saudi Arabia, after Zamalek ahead Zizo struck from the penalty spot to maneuver into the second group qualifying spot.
However 4 minutes from time, the 38-year-old rose to the event and leapt for a bulleted header within the six-yard field to outsmart goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi.
The feat marks the three hundredth time that Ronaldo has scored with both his left foot or head, somewhat than his dominant proper foot.
Cristiano Ronaldo pulled out a few of his trademark magic in entrance of objective on Thursday night time
The star was assassin-like in entrance of objective to equalise and guide Al-Nassr’s quarter-finals spot
The 38-year-old scored his second of the event and can now change focus to the league
A draw within the Kingdom meant that Al-Nassr held onto the second spot in Group C, and qualification to the following stage of the competitors.
Thursday’s match additionally featured the debut of Ronaldo’s latest team-mate Sadio Mane, who joins the Saudi facet from Bayern Munich following his abortive transfer to the Bundesliga in 2022.
Scorching on the heels of a glittering spell at Liverpool, Mane’s solitary season in Munich was blighted by a lack of kind, damage issues, and a tumultuous staff dynamic within the dressing room.
Issues got here to a head for the Senegal star after he punched his then-team-mate Leroy Sane within the dressing room following their facet’s Champions League defeat to Manchester Metropolis on the Etihad.
His former coach Thomas Tuchel revealed that he bore some of the ‘responsibility’ for Mane’s tough yr on the Allianz after the switch went by way of on Tuesday.
‘We had an enormous hug,’ the German supervisor stated of his participant’s departure. ‘We agreed that we don’t like what’s occurring now however that it’s the very best on this state of affairs.
‘I completely perceive that he feels harm. I additionally don’t really feel joyful. We didn’t convey it to the total potential which is my duty.’
Mane is the most recent big-money recruit to the Saudi Professional League following an environment friendly summer time switch window that has seen a number of high-profile signings tempted to the Kingdom.
Sadio Mane (left) made his debut in Al-Nassr yellow following his transfer from Bayern Munich
Ronaldo himself claimed some responsibility for the seismic change within the league’s switch coverage.
‘I am 100 per cent certain I will not return to any European membership,’ the previous Juventus ahead stated in an interview in July.
‘I opened the best way to the Saudi league and now all of the gamers are coming right here.’
Al-Nassr will start their league season on August 14 in an opener that sees the facet face Al-Ettifaq – prompting a Premier League reunion of types with supervisor Steven Gerrard and new recruit Jordan Henderson, each, like Mane, previously of Liverpool.
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