FOOTBALL – Aymeric Laporte’s stoppage-time header gave a much-changed Al Nassr side their fourth successive Saudi Pro League win over Damac 1-0 last night.
Head coach Luis Castro left Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Alex Telles and Marcelo Brozovic on the bench, although Croatia midfielder Brozovic was soon needed after an early injury to Sami Al Naji.
The reason for Ronaldo kicking his heels despite two hat-tricks in his past two matches was the quick turnaround for Monday’s Saudi Super Cup semifnal against Al Hilal.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was introduced midway through the second half and had an attempt cleared off the line before Laporte powered home his third goal of the season from Brozovic’s right-wing corner.
Al Nassr remain 12 points behind Al Hilal after the runaway leaders beat Al Khaleej 4-1. With seven games of the season to play, the title is effectively out of reach, meaning Ronaldo, Laporte and the rest will be keen to strike back against the rivals in Monday’s Super Cup encounter.
Both teams found chances from open play tricky to come by before halftime, with centre-back Ali Lajami wasting Al Nassr’s best chance when he planted a free header wide from Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s right-wing corner.
Visiting left-back Mohammed Qasem was fortunate not to be sent off late in the half when he blundered into Ramzi Solan having already been booked. That was part of Castro’s motivation for a double change, with Sultan Al Ghannam replacing Qasem and Sadio Mane coming on for Abdulaziz Al Elewai.
The former Liverpool favourite almost had an instant impact when he carved apart the Damac backline with a glorious through ball. It put the 20-year-old striker Meshari Al Nemer in on goal on his full debut, but Ronaldo’s deputy for the night dragged wastefully wide.
Midway through the second half, Al Nemer made way for Ronaldo and he and Mane belatedly lifted the testimonial feel.
The two star forwards combined in the 79th minute for Ghareeb to astonishingly volley Ronaldo’s dinked cross against the bar from four yards.
Laporte then played Ronaldo in down the left channel and his deft finish was hacked out of the goalmouth by Abdelkader Bedrane. Ronaldo will have to wait a little longer for his 30th league goal of the season, but Spain international Laporte was on hand to be the unlikely hero.
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