17 February 2023 , 17:04
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Al-Nassr left it late, but moved back to the top of the Saudi Pro League, with VAR playing a pivotal role throughout their narrow 2-1 win over Al-Taawoun.
Just last week, Cristiano Ronaldo was all smiles with referee Sultan Al-Harbi, asking the official to sign his first hat-trick ball in the country. It was a different story in his latest appearance though, after his side were denied what looked like a clear first-half penalty. But after furiously telling the officials to "wake up" they intervened to help his side leave with all three points.
Ronaldo finally found his feet in his new country last time out, scoring all four goals in the rout of Al-Wehda. And in the early goings against Al-Taawoun, the ex-Manchester United star looked like he may take the game over again.
He was instrumental in the home side’s opening goal after he played an inch-perfect pass for Abdulrahman Ghareeb to put the home side in front in the 17th minute.
Al-Nassr went on to make much of the running in the first half and thought they should have been given a chance to double the lead on the stroke of half time. After another bursting Ronaldo run, he freed goalscorer Ghareeb to run into the box unopposed.
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The winger then squared the ball back towards Ronaldo, only for a combination of goalkeeper Maylson and defender Naldo to block the cross. However, Al-Nassr’s attacking players, including Ronaldo, instantly appealed for a penalty.
The Al-Nassr skipper ran straight towards the referee, slapping his arm to intimate Naldo had used a hand to stop the ball. Replays indicated that was the case only for a VAR check to back-up the on-field decision.
The ball appeared to strike Naldo's arm, but the ref waved away protestsThat left the Portuguese star furious, even after the half-time whistle he was spotted walking down the tunnel screaming “Wake Up!” towards the group of officials.
His frustration was then compounded shortly into the second half when Al-Taawoun levelled the scoring through Alvaro Medran. Ronaldo then spurned a glorious chance to put his side back into the lead, before more calls for a penalty were waved away.
Al-Nassr went into Friday’s game third in the table, with Al-Itiihad and Al-Shabab both moving ahead of them with wins earlier this week. In Al-Taawoun though, they were facing a side capable of picking up a result, finding themselves in fifth place after 17 games.
After scoring just once in his first three games for the Saudi giants, manager Rudi Garcia claimed his four-goal glut showed he was beginning to feel comfortable with his new colleagues.
Ronaldo sprinted towards the referee during Al-Nassr's latest league encounterHe said: "Ronaldo has reached a great stage of homogeneity and harmony with his teammates. Over time, his team-mates realised what he wanted and when he will score. I think it was a good night for Cristiano Ronaldo because he scored four goals."
And that harmony was evident for the second time in the closing stages, as he helped create Al-Nassr's winner, albeit inadvertently. With 12 minutes to go, the striker blocked a shot from a team-mate, only for the ball to fall into the path of ex-captain Abdullah Madu who fired the ball into the back of the net.
The strike was initially disallowed for offside by the assistant referee, but after seeing a replay within the stadium, Ronaldo was adamant the goal should be allowed. He celebrated with his team well before it was given, such was his confidence. And that optimism was rewarded with the referee eventually allowing the goal to spark wild scenes of celebration.
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