Ronaldo strikes again, Mane marks new arrival to family with goal | OneFootball

There was plenty to celebrate at Al Awwal Park on Friday night.

In Al Nassr defeating Al Kholood 3-1, last year’s runners-up had rekindled their Roshn Saudi League title challenge. Getting back to winning ways following two league matches without one, Al Nassr moved third in the table and to within 10 points of leaders Al Ittihad.

The opener arrived from the ever-trustworthy Cristiano Ronaldo, who reached 19 goals this domestic campaign to increase his lead at the top of the 2024-25 scoring charts.

Now two ahead of nearest challenger Abderrazak Hamdallah, the golden boot he collected in record-breaking fashion last season might just remain with him.

Rounding off the night, Jhon Duran continued to underline why Al Nassr were right to plump for him in the January transfer window.

The hugely talented Colombian now has five goals in six RSL matches since make the move from English Premier League club Aston Villa. Earlier this week, he scored twice to help Al Nassr into the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals.

And, in between those goals, Sadio Mane was marking a personal milestone moment, too.

Having met first-time Salem Al Najdi’s cross from the left to power home just before the half hour, Mane not only lifted his 2024-25 RSL haul to seven goals to go with his seven assists, but he celebrated by outstretching his arms, as if cradling a baby.

And the reason? He has recently welcomed a daughter into the world.

“Shukran Habibi,” Mane said in perfect Arabic post-match when offered congratulations for the new arrival.

Although, asked if his daughter would one day follow in her father’s footsteps and become a professional football, the two-time African Footballer of the Year simply smiled wide.

“We’ll see,” Mane laughed.

He could be content, as well, with Al Nassr’s win. Their title hopes may be faint given there remain only nine rounds this season, but one thing’s for sure, the capital club will return from the upcoming break still buoyed by Friday’s success.

“It was a great game today, especially the first half,” Mane said. “We put them under pressure; we controlled the game; we dominated, even though we struggled a bit, which is normal because they’re a good team.

“Even though we scored three goals I think it was quite a tight game, because they also had chances to score. But at the end of the day, we scored three goals, and we deserved to win.”

Asked about Al Nadji’s super assist, Mane joked: “I don’t know if we did it on purpose."

"But it was a great assist for Salem," he added. "We know each other for a long time since we’re playing together and when I saw him with the ball, I knew he will cross it into the box.

“So I just tried to be there at the right time. It was a good goal.”

Al Nassr's next RSL assignment will be the high-profile Capital Derby with Riyadh rivals Al Hilal, during Derby Week, on  April 4.