Al Fateh vs Al Nassr final score, highlights and analysis as Cristiano Ronaldo penalty rescues point

Dom Farrell

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Al Fateh vs Al Nassr final score, highlights and analysis as Cristiano Ronaldo penalty rescues point image

Cristiano Ronaldo snatched 2-2 draw for Al Nassr at Al Fateh as he dispatched his first Saudi Pro League goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Al Nassr were behind twice and Ronaldo missed a couple of glorious chances before holding his nerve amid a tempestuous conclusion, where his strike partner Anderson Talisca was sent off at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium.

Cristian Tello marked his Al Fateh debut with a sublime volley, a strike that was sensationally bettered by teammate Sofian Bendebka before the hour.

Talisca had scored his 13th goal of the season to ensure it was all square at the break but ruined his outing with a stamping tackle after Ronaldo's late leveller that was upgraded to red by VAR.

Al Fateh vs Al Nassr final score

  1H 2H Final
Al Fateh 1 1 2
Al Nassr 1 1 2

Goals:

AL FATEH — CRISTIAN TELLO — 12th minute

AL NASSR — TALISCA  — 42nd minute

AL FATEH — SOFIANE BENDEBKA — 59th minute

AL NASSR — CRISTIANO RONALDO  — 90th minute+2

Tello capitalised on an error from fellow debutant Agustin Rossi in the Al Nassr goal to finish from 25 yards.

Ronaldo thought he had scored in the 24th minute but was rightly flagged offside when he dispatched Talisca's pass. He then blazed over an empty net after a Talisca shot was tipped against the post.

There was a sense of inevitability when the Brazilian forward pulled Al Nassr level with a first-time effort from Ghislain Konan's cross. Ronaldo rounded off the half by firing against the crossbar.

Al Nassr began the second half on the front foot but Bendebka produced a moment of inspiration when he latched onto a hopeful long ball to drill a volley into the roof of the net.

Al Fateh looked like they would hold out but a bad-tempered ending to the contest saw them lose their composure, most notably when Ali Salah Al-Jassem blundered into fellow substitute Jaloliddin Masharipov and Ronaldo opened his account.

MORE: Al Nassr match schedule and results for the 2022/23 season

Who is Cristiano Ronaldo's strike partner at Al Nassr?

If Ronaldo is going to take a while to get up to speed in Saudi Arabia, Talisca's forthcoming ban is really going to bite. The former Brazil Under-23 international is in sparkling form and dragged Al Nassr back into the game, operating as he did at the heart of their best work either side of scoring his 13th goal of the season.

There were a couple of tantalising hints over what the link-up between Talisca and Ronaldo might bring once he serves his suspension for letting a feisty conclusion to the contest get the better of him.

Who is Sofiane Bendebka?

Al Fateh boss Georgios Donis will have been delighted to see Tello, a January signing from LAFC, mark his debut in such style. The former Barcelona youngster stood as the most obvious counterpoint to Ronaldo in the respective lineups and took his opportunity with aplomb.

However, few will have envisaged the unheralded Bendebka threatening to win the match in sensational style, although he gave Al Nassr due warning with a vicious curling free-kick before halftime.

The former Algerian Olympian has been capped nine times by his country at senior level and is in his fourth season with Al Fateh. He had only scored once in 12 outings this term before bringing the house down on Friday.

Lineups

Al Fateh (4-4-2 right to left): Rinne (GK) — Al-Zubaidi, Al-Daheem, Saadane, Buhimed — Al-Buraikan, Petros, Al-Fuhaid, Al-Khulaif — Bendebka, Tello.

Al Nassr (4-2-3-1, right to left): Rossi (GK) — Al-Ghannam, Al-Amri, Lajami, Konan— Gustavo, Al-Khaibari — Yahya, Talisca, Ghareeb — Ronaldo

Al Fateh vs Al Nassr commentary, highlights from Saudi Pro League

Fulltime: A frantic finale ends with things all square. Remarkably, that's Al Fateh's first draw of the season in their 15th game. Al Nassr go top on goal difference thanks to Ronaldo's injury-time penalty. Someone should tell Rudi Garcia, because he's in an absolutely raging fury about something or other. Talisca's red card probably has something to do with it. 

90th minute+5: RED CARD! Talisca's sparkling display ends in infamy as he is sent off. He was initially booked for a stamping challenge but it was upgraded to red on review. A touch harsh!

90th minute+2: GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!! Cristiano Ronaldo!!!!!

Well, well. It looked like Talisca was ready to take that then before Ronaldo pulled rank and crashed a nerveless spot kick down the middle. He grabs the ball and runs back to the centre circle. Al Nassr want a winner.

The penalty came about from some elite buffoonery from substitute Ali Salah Al-Jassem, who blundered haphazardly into Masharipov to leave the referee with little choice.

90th minute: Penalty to Al Nassr!

Wonder who'll take it?

89th minute: Some silliness here, as Ronaldo's frustration gets the better of him. After a coming together with Al-Daheem, the veteran forward pulls the Al Fateh defender up to his feet. That causes a bit of a mass scramble, after which both Ronaldo and Al-Daheem are booked.

87th minute: Close! Talisca swivels to volley goalwards at the far post. Rinne is again up to the task with a fine reaction stop.

84th minute: Nawaf Boushal is the latest substitute introduced by Al Nassr boss Rudi Garcia, who is cutting an increasingly frustrated figure on the sidelines. His team are disjointed, Ronaldo is on the margins and any equaliser at this point would feel like a bolt from the blue.

76th minute: Al Nassr substitute Jaloliddin Masharipov chips a cross from the left. Talisca attempts an ambitious overhead kick on the end of a bouncing ball but the attempts skids harmlessly wide.

72nd minute: Tello is making his way off to a warm ovation. Will he have contributed to a famous victory?

71st minute: Ronaldo comes deep to try and spark something. Al Fateh captain Saadane flies into a firm but fair tackle. The sends Ronaldo sprawling and he gets a mouthful of Saadane's observations.

69th minute: Al Nassr are leaving themselves increasingly open on the break and Rossi has to stand firm to thwart Al-Buraikan.

65th minute: As was the case when Al Fateh went ahead in the first half, Al Nassr's response has been worryingly lacking in any sort of conviction. Ronaldo bustles away to win a corner.

59th minute: GOOOAAALLLLL!!!! Sofiane Bendebka!!!

There'd been a bit of a lull in the action, with Al Nassr on top, but my word that's an absolutely stunning strike from Bendekba. There appeared to be little danger as a pass was launched towards the forward from deep before he rifled an unstoppable volley beyond Rossi and into the roof of the net.

48th minute: Ronaldo gets away down the inside right channel and stands up a nice cross for Talisca. The Brazilian gets his header all wrong though and the ball loops over.

46th minute: We're back underway. Can Al Nassr plot a path to the top of the table.

Halftime: An entertaining half, with Al Nassr back on terms after Tello's stunner. Ronaldo, as you'd expect, does not look a happy man as he trudges off.

45th minute+2: Ronaldo gets the pass this time, but he hits the bar! Al Nassr finishing the half as they started it (they'll want to forget the half an hour in between where they were utterly awful) but the goal Ronaldo craves won't arrive.

45th minute+1: Luiz Gustavo absolutely munches into a tackle in midfield. He sets Ghareeb free and the winger shoots at Rinne. Ronaldo was screaming for a pass and is furious.

42nd minute: GOOOOAAALLLL!!!!!!! Talisca!!!

That's a wonderfully worked equaliser and Talisca, who has been Al Nassr's shining light so far, has his 13th of the season. Ghareeb spread a pass out to left-back Konan, who cut back a low cross for the Brazilian to expertly drill home first time.

40th minute: Al Nassr right-back Al-Ghannam curls a ball towards Ronaldo but goalkeeper Rinne is out bravely to punch clear.

36th minute: Oh, Ronaldo should do better. Much better! Rinne makes a superb save low down to his left to tip Talisca's shot on the the base of the post. CR7 is the first to react but blazes over.

34th minute: Tello again, cutting inside from the left with menace. Al Nassr get a couple of bodies back to block his eventual effort.

32nd minute: Another chance for Tello, whose shot is deflected off target.

30th minute: Al Fateh have been well on top since scoring. Al-Buraikan and Al-Khulaif are driving things down the flanks and Al Nassr look susceptible to diagonal ballls.

26th minute: Luiz Gustavo clumsily gives away a freekick. Bendebka curls a superb effort just wide that had Rossi scrambling. 

Bendebka it like Beckham?

24th minute: GOOAA...no! Ronaldo thought that was the moment. Talisca flicks a lovely pass round the corner. Ronaldo controls on his chest expertly, shifts it onto his left foot and drills home via the post. He looks up, aghast, to see the offside flag. Looking at replays, it wasn't even particularly close.

21st minute: Nah, that's useless. Ronaldo blooters it into the wall. Talisca keeps the attack alive and finds a cross for the number seven, who heads off target.

20th minute: Ronaldo is lining up a freekick from all of 35 yards. Even for him this looks a bit of a stretch.

17th minute: Al Nassr's heads haven't really cleared from that setback. Rossi, in particular, is all over the place and has needlessly given away a corner.

12th minute: GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! Cristian Tello!!!!

Against the run of play but it's a screamer from former Barcelona youngster Tello. It's also an awful moment for another debutant, Rossi in the Al Nassr goal, who punches poorly when dealing with a cross from the right. The ball loops to Tello, who steers home a sumptuous 25-yard volley.

10th minute: Dicey moment for Al Fateh goalkeeper Rinnie, who makes a hash of passing out from the back. Al Nassr are unable to capitalise with Ronaldo lurking.

7th minute: Al Nassr have certainly made the stronger start. Ronaldo lays the ball in-field to Luiz Gustavo and scampers off for a return pass. If doesn't arrive as the Brazilian midfielder blazes a long-range effort way over from 30 yards.

4th minute: Talisca, who has been Al Nassr's danger man in recent weeks, finds some space down the left but makes a hash of the cross that flies out for a goal kick.

2nd minute: Almost an early opening for Ronaldo but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is rightly pulled back for offside.

5 mins from kickoff: The teams are ready to go. Ronaldo looking all business. Surely he gets on the scoresheet today?

15 mins from kickoff: Agustin Rossi is making his debut in goal for Al Nassr today, having joined on loan from Boca Juniors. David Ospina is set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken elbow, forcing Rudi Garcia back into the transfer market.

45 mins from kickoff: Last season, Al Nassr won both matches against Al Fateh with Talisca scoring in 2-1 and 1-0 victories respectively. There's a bit of bad blood between the sides too it seems with both of those games seeing red cards. Expect a few fireworks today.

60 mins from kickoff: We're expecting team news any minute now. Stay tuned...

And here it is! Ronaldo starts and captains the side. 

90 mins from kickoff: Plenty of talk in recent days in the build up to this match has centred around Ronaldo, as expected, but comments made by his coach suggests Europe hasn't seen the last of the 37-year-old just yet.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is a positive addition, as he helps to disperse defenders," Rudi Garcia said in late January. "He is one of the best players in the world. He will not finish his career at Al Nassr, he will return to Europe."

We've taken a look at the potential clubs Ronaldo could join following the end of his two-year contract with Al Nassr.

2 hours from kickoff: Hello and welcome to the Sporting News' live coverage of Cristiano Ronaldo's latest outing for Al Nassr, away at Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Fateh vs Al Nassr lineups

Al Fateh manager Giorgos Donis has enjoyed a solid start to 2023, with two wins in four league matches, as they look to secure mid-table safety. Al Fateh have a majority Saudi squad but they do have former Barcelona winger Cristian Tello as a late January signing.

Al Fateh lineup (4-3-3): Rinne (GK) — Al-Zubaidi, Al-Daheem, Saadane, Buhimed — Bendebka, Petros, Al-Fuhaid — Tello, Al-Buraikan, Al-Khulaif

Subs: Al Mogawhi, Al Jassem, Al Slis, Al Mousa, Al Najdi, Al Jari, Abdullah, Al Othman, Malayekah

Agustin Rossi makes his debut in goal for Al Nassr, having joined on the back of David Ospina suffering a broken elbow. Luis Gustavo is expected to retain his spot in midfield, with Talisca playing just behind Ronaldo.

Al Nassr lineup (4-2-3-1):  Rossi (GK) — Al-Ghannam, Al-Amri, Lajami, Konan— Gustavo, Al-Khaibari — Yahya, Talisca, Ghareeb — Ronaldo

Subs: Waleed, Mado, Boushal, Majed, Alsulaihem, Alhassan, Sami, Masharipov, Martinez

MORE: Al Nassr players, full squad and shirt numbers

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How to watch Al Fateh vs Al Nassr

SSC (Saudi Sports Company) has been live streaming Al Nassr matches in English via its Twitter channel. Sky Sports is streaming the action live in the UK on its YouTube channel

Local broadcasters in selected countries have the rights to televise or stream the Saudi Pro League, and fans in other countries can subscribe to streaming platform Shahid for complete coverage of the Roshn Saudi Pro League.

According to LiveSoccerTV, selected European countries will have local broadcasters carrying the match, while DirecTV Sports will bring it to Spanish-speaking South American countries.

MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo's salary in Saudi Arabia

  TV channel Streaming
Australia — Shahid
Canada — Shahid
Hong Kong — Shahid
India — Shahid
Malaysia — Shahid
New Zealand — Shahid
Singapore — Shahid
UK — Shahid
USA — Shahid

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.