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A gift from Al-Taawoun keeps Al-Nassr close to Al-Hilal

Al-Nassr continued their pursuit of league leaders Al-Hilal after securing a valuable 1–0 victory over their guests Al-Taawoun, in round 17 of the Saudi Pro League.

The match’s decisive goal came just before the end of the first half, when Al-Taawoun player Mohammed Al-Dossary inadvertently turned a cross delivered by Senegalese star Sadio Mané into his own net past Brazilian goalkeeper Mailson — a moment that reflected the sustained attacking pressure Al-Nassr had imposed on their opponents’ defense since the opening whistle.

Al-Nassr entered the encounter with clear determination to score early, capitalizing on Al-Hilal’s 1–1 draw with Al-Riyadh the previous day — a slip that renewed hope among their rivals of narrowing the gap at the top.

Jorge Jesus’ side showed a strong desire to dominate, starting the match with high pressing and lively movement in the attacking third, particularly through captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who found the net early only to see his goal ruled out for offside. The return of Mané, fresh from lifting the Africa Cup of Nations title with Senegal, also provided Al-Nassr with added quality in terms of pace and chance creation, which was clearly reflected in the team’s attacking performance.

In the second half, Al-Nassr maintained their control amid a clear retreat from Al-Taawoun, who failed to pose any real threat to the goal of Brazilian goalkeeper Bento. Al-Nassr relied on balance between the lines, closed down spaces effectively, and preserved their lead until the final whistle.

With this win — Al-Nassr’s third consecutive league victory — the team raised their tally to 40 points in second place, edging Al-Ahli on goal difference and reducing the gap to leaders Al-Hilal to five points, keeping the title race wide open. Al-Taawoun, meanwhile, remained on 35 points in fifth place after suffering their third defeat in the last six matches, continuing their inconsistent recent form.

Al-Ittihad return to winning ways

In another match from the same round, defending champions Al-Ittihad returned to winning ways after claiming a hard-fought 2–1 victory over their guests Al-Okhdood.

French star N’Golo Kanté was undoubtedly the man of the match, scoring one goal and assisting another to lead his team to an end of a three-match winless run in the competition.

Al-Ittihad opened the scoring early in the 12th minute through Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar, who capitalized on a precise pass from Kanté inside the penalty area. The “Tigers” continued their attacking pressure, before Kanté himself doubled the lead two minutes before halftime with a powerful low shot from outside the box, showcasing his high technical quality and central role in midfield.

Despite their clear superiority, Al-Ittihad could have added further goals were it not for the impressive performance of Al-Okhdood’s goalkeeper, who made several crucial saves. In the second half, Al-Ittihad maintained their pressure but lacked composure in front of goal, allowing Al-Okhdood to reduce the deficit in the 59th minute through Turkish forward Burak İnce, who headed home strongly following a cross from Cameroonian Christian Bassogog.

Al-Ittihad raised their points tally to 30, moving up to sixth place, but they remain well outside the title race, sitting 15 points behind leaders Al-Hilal, while Al-Okhdood continue to hover dangerously close to the relegation zone.

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