Al Nassr Hold On to Top Spot in the Saudi Pro League

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.

The victory was sealed in the second half thanks to goals from Senegalese forward Sadio Mané (52’) and Spanish defender Iñigo Martínez (81’), 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.

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’), before the team’s star man, Cristiano Ronaldo, tested his luck with a free kick that also went just wide (18’).

Al-Kholood goalkeeper Juan Cozzani was in inspired form, denying French defender Mohamed Simakan’s effort with a fingertip save to push it out for a corner (24’), before producing another brilliant stop to keep out Portuguese forward João Félix (32’).

Al-Kholood nearly snatched a goal on the counter, but Simakan came to the rescue once again, blocking fellow Frenchman Kevin N’Doram’s attempt and conceding a corner (43’), which proved to be the final chance of the first half.

At the start of the second half, Félix unleashed a powerful shot that just cleared the bar (47’). Moments later, Al Nassr broke the deadlock with a well-worked move as French winger Kingsley Coman exchanged passes with Mané, who coolly slotted the ball past Cozzani into the right corner (52’).

The woodwork denied Al Nassr a second goal when Félix’s strike crashed off the crossbar and out (54’). Coman then missed another big chance, sending his rebound over the bar in bizarre fashion after Cozzani’s initial save (69’).

But from a corner kick, Al Nassr finally doubled their lead as Martínez rose highest to head the ball past Cozzani (81’). The goalkeeper’s excellent performance was suddenly outshone by Al Nassr’s own shot-stopper, Raghid Al-Najjar, who made a stunning save to deny Comoros international M’zeiani Maoulida from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.

Lacazette Makes His Saudi League Mark

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.

Lacazette scored in the 30th minute and converted a penalty in the 83rd, while Uruguayan forward Jesús Medina netted Damac’s only goal (49’).

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 José Carvalho (1’) and Senegalese Mamadou Sylla Diallo (19’). Al-Najma’s lone goal came from Brazilian Lázaro Vinícius (51’).