Ronaldo fails to score again, Al Nassr loses to Al Ettifaq

In the early morning of February 22, the home team Al Nassr met Al Ettifaq in round 21 of the Saudi Pro League. In the first half alone, Ronaldo had at least 3 good chances but could not beat goalkeeper Rodak.

After 13 ineffective shots, the home team finally found the opening goal through Yahya's header in the 47th minute. Although the away team equalized after a moment of brilliance from Georginio Wijnaldum, Al Nassr soon regained the lead in the 65th minute, also with a header, this time from Al Fatil.

In the remaining minutes, Al Nassr played proactively. At the time when it seemed that 3 points were in hand, the poor defense made the home team pay a heavy price.

In the 82nd minute, Al Ettifaq tried to organize an attack on the right wing. Before the visitors' cross, Al Fatil clumsily scored an own goal, much to the surprise of his teammates.

After the home team conceded, coach Pioli made a puzzling decision to take off his best centre-back, Aymeric Laporte, and let Fatil, who had just scored an own goal, continue playing. The defending champions' defence fumbled and the worst-case scenario happened. In the 89th minute, Wijnaldum comfortably finished in the penalty area, putting Al Ettifaq ahead 3-2.

Al Nassr conceded consecutive goals and were also forced to play with one less man when Jhon Duran was sent off for slapping a visiting player on the head. Ronaldo reacted strongly to the referee but could not change the penalty for his Colombian teammate.

In the end, Al Nassr lost 2-3, thereby ending their 5-match winning streak in the Saudi Pro League, and also being eliminated from the group with a ticket to the AFC Champions League next season.

Currently, coach Stefano Pioli's team is in 4th place with 44 points, 8 points behind the top team Al Ittihad but has played 1 more match.