Video: Felix's rocket rescues Al-Nassr from the Neom trap on a night when Ronaldo faded
The international side claim all three points
Al-Nassr edged past a stubborn Neom side on Tuesday evening, snatching a precious 1-0 win in the tenth round of the Saudi Roshn Pro League. A rocket of a strike from Portugal's Joao Felix settled it, rescuing his team on a night to forget for compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both teams traded clear-cut chances in a thrilling contest. Ronaldo endured a miserable evening in front of goal, missing a penalty and squandering a handful of easy openings. Then Felix stepped up to win it with a superb strike in the second half.
Felix's rocket settles the clash
Al-Nassr needed 61 minutes to break the deadlock. Joao Felix latched onto a superb pass and lashed a powerful strike into Neom's net, handing his side a one-goal lead and settling a contest both teams had struggled to crack.
His goal arrived at the perfect moment. Al-Nassr had dominated without reward, foiled by a resolute Neom defence and wasteful finishing at both ends. Once again, Felix showed he can decide the big moments.
Ronaldo squanders chances and endures a difficult night
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, endured one of his most difficult matches. He wasted a dangerous chance at the end of the first half, firing a penalty strangely wide of the target.
The Al-Nassr captain's woes did not stop there. Two minutes into the second half he squandered an even stranger opportunity, collecting a headed pass from Senegal's Sadio Mane after a corner, only to blaze the ball over the crossbar in front of an empty net.
A third chance went begging in the 75th minute. Ronaldo gathered a pass inside the box but shot beside the left post, spurning the openings that would have handed Al-Nassr a far more comfortable win. His team instead had to cling to their lead until the end.
Lacazette poses a threat, but Al-Nassr claim all three points
France's Alexandre Lacazette spurned an early chance for Neom in the fifth minute. He broke clear on goal, but Brazil's Bento Matheus stood firm to deny him and spare Al-Nassr an early blow.
The Neom striker almost levelled things up again when he rose to meet a dangerous header that cannoned off the crossbar.
Neom created their chances, but Al-Nassr held on to their lead until the final whistle. Three precious points lift them to 22 in third place, two behind leaders Al-Hilal and three off Al-Qadsiah. Neom stay stuck on 16 points in sixth.
