Cristiano Ronaldo said he was “so happy” to score in front of Al Nassr's fans after the forward struck a free-kick to lead his side’s comeback win against Abha - and keep alive their Saudi Pro League title hopes.
The Portuguese forward, who was this week included in Roberto Martinez’s first Portugal squad, levelled the scores with 12 minutes remaining in Saturday’s night clash with Abha before Nassr went on to secure a vital 2-1 victory.
The Riyadh club, second in the table, were 1-0 down and seemingly heading into the international break with a crushing defeat. However, Ronaldo’s free-kick from 25 yards – his first goal in four matches – and Anderson Talisca’s 86th-minute penalty sealed the three points. Abha played the final 10 minutes with 10 men.
With the win, Nassr moved back to within a point of leaders Al Ittihad with nine matches remaining. Earlier on Saturday, Ittihad thumped Al Fateh 5-1.
Speaking on social media after Nassr's come-from-behind win, Ronaldo tweeted: “Great to get the win and so happy to score here in our stadium with our fans.”
Ronaldo, 38, has scored nine goals in his past eight nine appearances for Nassr, but had failed to register following a superb February in which he found the net eight times and registered two assists.
The former Manchester United, Juventus and Real Madrid attacker, who signed for Nassr in late December on a contract apparently worth more than $200 million per year, will now meet up the Portugal national team.
The 2016 European champions begin their 2024 Euros qualification campaign with a home match against Liechtenstein on Thursday before taking on Luxembourg away three days later.
Nassr, nine-time Saudi champions, return to league action on April 4, against second-from-bottom Al Adalah.
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
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Winner: Al Tiryaq, Dane O’Neill (jockey), Abdullah Al Hammadi (trainer).
5.30pm: Al Zahra Handicap (rated 0-45) Dh 80,000 1,400m:
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88
Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883
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- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
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- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
EA Sports FC 24
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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