January 18, 2025
In a surprising turn of events, Al-Nassr was held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Taawoun in the 15th round of the Saudi Pro League, significantly impacting their championship aspirations. The match, which took place at Al-Taawoun's home ground, saw the Riyadh-based team fall behind early but manage to equalize in the second half.
Al-Taawoun, under the guidance of coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena, adopted a defensive strategy that effectively neutralized Al-Nassr's offensive threats. The home team capitalized on a defensive lapse by Al-Nassr, with Musa Barrow delivering a precise cross that found the back of the net, giving Al-Taawoun a 1-0 lead just before halftime.
In response, Al-Nassr intensified their attack after the break. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been relatively quiet throughout the match, played a pivotal role in the equalizer. His well-timed header off a corner kick in the 64th minute leveled the score at 1-1.
Despite several attempts to secure a victory, including a close-range shot from Ronaldo that was cleared off the line, Al-Nassr could not find the decisive goal. Al-Taawoun's defense, led by goalkeeper Mailson, remained resolute, and a potential penalty for handball against Ronaldo in stoppage time was overturned after a VAR review.
This draw leaves Al-Nassr trailing the league leaders, Al-Hilal, by eleven points and third-place Al-Qadsiah by three points. With the season progressing, Al-Nassr's path to the championship has become more challenging, and they will need to regroup and secure victories in upcoming matches to stay in contention.
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