Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first free kick in nearly THREE years
Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first free kick in almost THREE years to help Al-Nassr clinch a crucial victory over Abha and keep up their Saudi title momentum…with the Portuguese star’s last goal for Juventus in July 2018! 2020!
- Cristiano Ronaldo has built a reputation for his free kicks during his career.
- However, he has struggled to replicate that goalscoring form in recent years.
- Ronaldo broke his free-kick drought with a crucial goal for Al-Nassr on Saturday
Cristiano Ronaldo helped inspire Al-Nassr to an important 2-1 win over Abha on Saturday, scoring a rare free-kick.
Al-Nassr was trying to keep pace with Saudi Pro League table top Al-Ittihad, who beat Ronaldo’s side 1-0 last week.
Earlier on Saturday, Al-Ittihad thrashed Al-Fateh 5-1 and Al-Nassr trailed 1-0 with just 12 minutes remaining and faced the possibility of falling four points behind their rivals.
However, Ronaldo stepped up to score a daring free kick from 30 yards to level the game, before Brazilian star Anderson Talisca scored a penalty four minutes from time to complete the turnaround.
Never afraid of stepping up to take set pieces with his iconic stance, Ronaldo ended a nearly three-year scoreless drought with a free kick in the process.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first free kick in almost three years with Al-Nassr on Saturday.
The Portuguese superstar last scored a free kick goal in July 2020 for Juventus
Although the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had a sensational record early in his career, with Saturday’s 56th goal from a free kick, he has struggled in recent years.
His last successful free kick came for Juventus on July 4, 2020 when he fired on goal in a 4-1 win over Torino.
He failed to score a free kick during his second spell with Manchester United and will be delighted to have regained some prolificacy against Abha.
Since his exciting move to Rudi Garcia’s side, Ronaldo has scored nine goals in eight Saudi Pro League games.
With nine games left in the season, they remain one point behind Al-Ittihad, led by former Tottenham and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
The victory against Abha helped Al-Nassr and Ronaldo maintain their title push in the Saudi Pro League.
