Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice for Al Nassr as they continued their progress in the AFC Champions League Elite with a 3-1 win over Al Gharafa in Qatar.
The Portuguese star, 39, helped move Al Nassr closer to the knockout stage, needing just two points from their final three group games. The 24 teams in the tournament are divided into two groups of 12 each, with eight from each progressing to the round of 16 after playing eight matches. Al Nassr moved to second spot on 13 points in Group B.
Captain Ronaldo had looked destined for a frustrating game following a series of missed opportunities in the first half at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Ronaldo had two early shots well saved by goalkeeper Sergio Ricom, and half an hour in he placed the ball on the penalty spot. Sadio Mane went down in the area under a challenge from Matias Nani and the referee awarded a penalty. But the VAR overturned the decision.
Ronaldo then missed the best opportunity of the first 45 minutes, heading a free kick just wide from close range.
However, the Portugal great finally opened the scoring in the second half when he headed home Sultan Al Ghannam's cross from close range.
Al Nassr then doubled their advantage through Angelo Gabriel on 58 minutes, before the Brazilian turned provider six minutes later to tee up Ronaldo for his second.
The goal took the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward to four goals in this season's rebranded competition before he was replaced on 74 minutes.
Al Gharafa did pull one back through Joselu, a former teammate of Ronaldo at Madrid.
Yet their hopes of an unlikely late rally disappeared when Seydou Sano was sent off six minutes from the end of normal time for a second bookable offence.
After the match, Ronaldo thanked his supporters on social media, posting "big win tonight" on X, formerly Twitter.
Tech billionaire and X owner Elon Musk congratulated Ronaldo in the social media post for what is a significant result for the Saudi side.
The win ensured Al Nassr remain unbeaten through five matches in the Western side of the draw, and move second in the 12-team table.
The Riyadh club now sit behind only Saudi Arabian counterparts Al Ahli, who maintained their 100 percent record thanks to a double from substitute Ivan Toney to see off Asian champions Al Ain 2-1 in the UAE.
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The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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May 2017
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September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
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Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
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The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
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Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
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