Al Nassr held on to the top of the Saudi Pro League table with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Al-Kholood in the final match of Match week 2.<\/p>
The victory was sealed in the second half thanks to goals from Senegalese forward Sadio Man\u00e9 (52\u2019) and Spanish defender I\u00f1igo Mart\u00ednez (81\u2019), taking Al Nassr to six points at the summit, ahead of Al-Ittihad and Al-Khaleej on goal difference. Meanwhile, Al Hilal were held to a thrilling 2-2 draw with Al-Qadsiah over the weekend in one of the most exciting matches of the new season so far.<\/p>
From the opening whistle, Al Nassr pressed forward in attack but struggled to create clear chances. Brazilian Angelo came close with a powerful strike that skimmed past the post (15\u2019), before the team\u2019s star man, Cristiano Ronaldo, tested his luck with a free kick that also went just wide (18\u2019).<\/p>
Al-Kholood goalkeeper Juan Cozzani was in inspired form, denying French defender Mohamed Simakan\u2019s effort with a fingertip save to push it out for a corner (24\u2019), before producing another brilliant stop to keep out Portuguese forward Jo\u00e3o F\u00e9lix (32\u2019).<\/p>
Al-Kholood nearly snatched a goal on the counter, but Simakan came to the rescue once again, blocking fellow Frenchman Kevin N\u2019Doram\u2019s attempt and conceding a corner (43\u2019), which proved to be the final chance of the first half.<\/p>
At the start of the second half, F\u00e9lix unleashed a powerful shot that just cleared the bar (47\u2019). Moments later, Al Nassr broke the deadlock with a well-worked move as French winger Kingsley Coman exchanged passes with Man\u00e9, who coolly slotted the ball past Cozzani into the right corner (52\u2019).<\/p>
The woodwork denied Al Nassr a second goal when F\u00e9lix\u2019s strike crashed off the crossbar and out (54\u2019). Coman then missed another big chance, sending his rebound over the bar in bizarre fashion after Cozzani\u2019s initial save (69\u2019).<\/p>
But from a corner kick, Al Nassr finally doubled their lead as Mart\u00ednez rose highest to head the ball past Cozzani (81\u2019). The goalkeeper\u2019s excellent performance was suddenly outshone by Al Nassr\u2019s own shot-stopper, Raghid Al-Najjar, who made a stunning save to deny Comoros international M\u2019zeiani Maoulida from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.<\/p>
Former France international and ex-Lyon and Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette made an immediate impact following his move to the Saudi Pro League, leading Neom to a 2-1 victory over Damac with a brace.<\/p>
Lacazette scored in the 30th minute and converted a penalty in the 83rd, while Uruguayan forward Jes\u00fas Medina netted Damac\u2019s only goal (49\u2019).<\/p>
Elsewhere, Al-Riyadh picked up their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Al-Najma, courtesy of goals from Portuguese Antonio Jos\u00e9 Carvalho (1\u2019) and Senegalese Mamadou Sylla Diallo (19\u2019). Al-Najma\u2019s lone goal came from Brazilian L\u00e1zaro Vin\u00edcius (51\u2019).<\/p>","continue_text":"Continue Reading","main_heading":"Blog"},"yoast_head":"\n