Ronaldo off mark in 2025 as Al Nassr move third with Al Okhdood win | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo kicked off his 2025 with a goal and a win as Al Nassr defeated Al Okhdood 3-1 on Thursday in the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League’s resumption.

The Portuguese superstar was integral to his side’s comeback at Al Awwal Park following Savior Godwin’s surprise opener for the visitors on six minutes. Pouncing on Al Nassr’s failure to clear Christian Bassogog’s cross, the Nigerian forward poked his shot beyond Bento in the home goal.

However, the hosts drew level just before the half hour, when former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane tapped home after Sultan Al Ghannam's close-range header had come back off the post. Mane had earlier had a goal disallowed.

Al Nassr then took the lead four minutes before half-time - Mane was barged over in the Al Okhdood penalty area, and Ronaldo converted from the spot. The club captain, who last week celebrated two years in Saudi Arabia, now has 11 RSL goals this season, moving him one behind Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic in the race for the golden boot.

Mane, meanwhile, has been in fine scoring form himself, and registered his fifth of the campaign two minutes from time. This time, the Senegal forward headed home Al Ghannam’s pinpoint cross from the right. The win lifts Al Nassr back into third in the table, six points behind champions Al Hilal and eight back from league leaders Al Ittihad.

Al Fateh 1-2 Al Wehda

Also on Thursday, in Matchweek 14’s opening day of action, Al Wehda triumphed 2-1 against fellow strugglers Al Fateh to jump out of the relegation zone. Craig Goodwin and Odion Ighalo put the visitors 2-0 ahead inside the first half hour, although Al Fateh were given hope on 57 minutes through Sofiane Bendebka’s curled finish from the edge of the area.

However, Al Wehda held on for only their third RSL victory of the season, with the three points hoisting them out of the drop zone and into 15th. Al Fateh, who had new manager Jose Gomes in the dugout for the first time, remain rooted to the bottom of the standings.

Al Riyadh 2-2 Al Khaleej

Elsewhere, Al Riyadh twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Al Khaleej in the capital on Thursday, the hosts snatching a point thanks to Yoann Barbet’s brilliant injury-time equaliser.

Al Khaleej went 1-0 up right on half-time when Greek midfielder Konstantinos Fortounis finished a lovely move to place past Al Riyadh goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Sabri Lamouchi’s side did have to wait until the 68th minute to draw level, but it was worth it as Toze supplied a fantastic volley to Faiz Selemani’s corner that fizzed inside the Al Khaleej upright.

Al Khaleej thought they’d won the match 10 minutes from time, after Fortounis turned provider to tee up Fabio Martins. There was a sting left in the tail, though, when Barbet curled home a superb free-kick from the right.

The draw means Al Riyadh and Al Khaleej stay seventh and eighth, respectively, separated in the table by only two points.