Al Nassr continued their push at the top end of the Saudi Pro League with a convincing 3-0 victory over Al Kholood at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. After a patient first half, the hosts turned on the style after the break to underline their title credentials.
The result, shared by the club’s official X account, further backs the confidence around Jorge Jesus’ side, who had already been tipped to extend their strong run in previews on SoftFootball ahead of the fixture.
The opening 45 minutes ended without goals, but Al Nassr were firmly in control. They dominated possession with 65 per cent of the ball and completed 501 passes compared to Al Kholood’s 271, steadily wearing down their opponents. Al Kholood offered little threat, registering just one shot on target from five attempts.
Discipline was tested early, as Iñigo Martínez went into the book midway through the half, while Hattan Bahebri picked up a yellow card shortly before the interval. SoftFootball had earlier noted Al Nassr’s ability to stay patient before striking, a trait that proved decisive once again.
That patience paid off almost immediately after halftime. In the 47th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock with a calm finish after being picked out by João Félix. Just six minutes later, Félix was again the provider, this time setting up Mohamed Simakan for a powerful strike that doubled the lead.
Any hopes of a response from Al Kholood faded further in the 72nd minute when Bahebri was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving his side stretched and vulnerable. Al Nassr took full advantage late on, with Kingsley Coman adding a third goal in the 87th minute as the visitors struggled to cope with the numerical disadvantage.
The statistics told a clear story, with Al Nassr recording 12 shots on goal, 15 efforts inside the box, and an 88 per cent pass accuracy. Despite Juan Cozzani’s eight saves, Al Kholood could not stem the flow.
The win leaves Al Nassr second with 43 points, keeping pressure on leaders Al Hilal, while Al Kholood stay 14th on 15 points, still looking over their shoulder.
