Cristiano Ronaldo scores two… then var denies his hat-trick

I think there's a manager in Jorge Jesus who's got a point to prove after his departure from Al-Hilal. I think he may just be the right fit at the right time for Cristiano Ronaldo and his men. Drifts at 15th in the league at the start of this match weekend. They've got a big task on their hand here tonight, we're looking at the potential. Future champions, that's what he's been brought to the club for. Cristiano Ronaldo strives after trophies, individual accolades, team accolades. And the one that's eluded him, the league title, seems to be a little bit closer than he has been before. Well, both Paulo Sergio and Cristiano Ronaldo can converse in Portuguese. Ronaldo knows Jesus and Al Nasser. They look to break a... The two captains meeting along with our match officials from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by Faisal Al-Balawi. Petros, the Brazilian... Inside this stadium here tonight. As Al Nasser go for yet another record in what has been an incredible season so far. He has been central to it. The previous team, which won nine games in a row, was the Al-Halal team of 2019. But here's an early opportunity for Nehry. And it's blocked, but the flag is then raised for offside. They have got pace on the counter-attack, it's a wonderful ball. In behind Al-Amri. Goalkeeper holds his ground, makes a good save. He's in behind the Al Nasser defensive line. Reacts quick Nehry. Strays offside, but that's the threat. The flag follows them. Very good defensive system. Ronaldo. Al Nasser have managed to get Alok Dude in the four previous meetings there have been. Xao Felix. That's a good ball. Angelo just behind Ronaldo. But here is Koeman, stepping inside and it's a good save. Portugal getting down really well. Inside. Good interchange. Angelo puts it in on his left foot. That's what Xao Felix does so well. He drops into that little role that we call the number 10 role. A problem in the wide area for Al Salam. And the cross deep towards Ronaldo. And he looks to the assistant, but this time the flag is not raised. What a chance. What a play on Ronaldo. It's a superb ball into the box. He gets his header all wrong. So uncharacteristic. Free header. Gets underneath it. Doesn't make the connection that he wants. He knows. Talks to his Portuguese teammate. This is the earlier opportunity. Kingsley Koeman. Goalkeeper guesses to his right. He guesses the right way. Brozovic in towards Ronaldo. But this week 11 will conclude later on today with Al Etihad against Al Shabaab. Al Etihad looking for the 25. Xao Felix. High towards Ronaldo. But Al-Rubaiy was there to head away. Now Petros. Al-Amri. Closed down by Koeman. Xao Felix. And Petros again showing his experience. But Al-Amri steps in before Nery there. And he lets fly, but it's just wide. Defender Al-Amri. He wanted to get the shot off earlier. He's looking to shoot there. Gets the ball out of his feet. It's not a bad effort. It's not too far away. Goalkeeper full length. And that's a beginning to take a grip on possession here. Abushal. Ronaldo. Abushal. May have been intended for Xao Felix. And Koeman. Abushal. And that cross is gathered by Portugal at the second attempt. Abushal quickly cuts that out. Koeman. Cut back towards Xao Felix. Ronaldo. And they got in each other's way. Had time to get in each other's way. They've been such a good, formidable partnership. Now Nery at the other end here. Looking to use his pace. He's got support in the area. But Nery may go alone. And it's a good save by Al-Aqidi. A strong left hand from him. ...position for a certain Portuguese man there. And you picture he just got in the way of his teammate. Which one? Very unusual for both of them, isn't it? Very unusual. This is the Nery effort. Goalkeeper had to make the save. It was deflected of Al-Amri. He's twice now. A lot to do about decent opportunities in behind this high line. Well. A look of... Wesley. Brozovic. Very congested. But it's high towards Ronaldo. Off the crossbar. Did it cross the line? Well, it's offside anyway. Doesn't matter. That was almost a wonderful piece of skill from his toe. He looks at the goalkeeper. Has just strayed offside. It's a wonderful, delicate touch from him. But he'll be very disappointed he hasn't kept himself onside. He's looking across the line. It's another great ball into him. It's two wonderful chances he's had already. He lives and breathes every minute, doesn't he? He's a fantastic manager and coach. Just a watch in the technical area. Ronaldo will curl this. And it's a good save by... Goalkeeper. He does well. Ronaldo gets it up and down. Catches it, doesn't he? No real intent. To see the free kick again from Cristiano Ronaldo. Gets it on target. Trouble of goalkeeper. Samuel Portugal's ability. 31-year-old Brazilian. Very comfortable save for him. He's had three or four really good opportunities. Cristiano Ronaldo in this game. Inside the area. Ronaldo is also there. João Felix with the delivery. And Samuel Portugal came for that. Then stopped. He was fortunate no one could get the touch. There he is now. He just finds the little spaces. He's always available. He's always there for a pass. Ronaldo. Burst into the penalty area. It's blocked by... And it will be a corner for Alnassa. Martinez. Now Ronaldo. Brozovic. Abuchal. Back on to that right foot again. But the in-swinging crosses. Divided away by... Once again Ronaldo. Try to find some room. Which is... Easier said than done. João Felix. It's deep towards Ronaldo. But Al-Rabaiy was there again. It's been a familiar story so far. Brozovic. Now Wesley. Koeman was challenging for it. And Al-Rabaiy. Scooping the ball. Crosses. Divided away comfortably by... Falcão Gould. Now Brozovic. Again it's deep towards Ronaldo. High to the far post. Constant. In the end it's gone behind and... Have a teammate there. Another brilliant ball into the box from Brozovic. And this time I don't think he's gone for goal. Cristiano Ronaldo has looked very unselfishly to set the ball back across goal. But his teammates haven't read his thinking. Alhambra gets blocked. And Felix just can't get round the back post. Good piece of unselfish play from Cristiano Ronaldo. But his teammates weren't on the same level. It's been the first half in which... Al-Nasr. In towards that near post. Flicked on and in! And it's Ronaldo again! And it's no surprise at all. That in the quest for the perfect ten. It's Cristiano Ronaldo who comes up with the opening goal. And what a perfect set piece that was as well. He's had his opportunities in this game. Cristiano Ronaldo. And he certainly wasn't going to miss from that range. That's one of the easier goals that he will score. It's been coming for him. And it's been coming for Al-Nasr. It takes a ball in from Joao Felix. Really well done at the near post from Alhambra. I think it is. He gets across the front of his man. Gets the slightest of headers on it. Then diverts it into the path of Cristiano Ronaldo across the six-yard box. And that man is not missing those. And he gets there before Al-Salam. And he's done that on so many occasions. Just that movement inside the area. We'll have a quick check on the VAR. We'll see whether Cristiano Ronaldo was offside from the header at the near post. There was a flicker at the near post. Alhambra, I think it was, that got there first. And they're just having a slight pause now. While they do check that. He thinks he's scored. It's a really clever run. It's an intelligent run around the back post. Reads the game like no other. Well, the goal's been given. And Al-Nasr finally are on their way. I don't think that Caledonari will agree with me. He's taken a painful one. Good goalkeeping. Well, the captain and coach in conversation here. They have been a perfect blend for Al-Nasr so far this season. Of course, in the early part of his career with Al-Nasr. They're having their own little private competition now. That's 11 all in the league. 22 goals in total. Lovely play. He can look to come inside. Breaks for Ronaldo. Xao Felix is waiting. He may get there before the goalkeeper. He's just driven wide initially. Now, Xao Felix looks to pick out Ronaldo again. He dives in and he's penalised. He took two out. They just exchanged glances. And Felix knew exactly where Ronaldo wanted it. He's going to get there by hook or by crook. Sends himself flying towards the ball. In all truth, neither one of them gets anywhere near it. He may be making the point that he said in his pre-match interview that he wasn't sure where the team was at because they've not had a fixture for so long. Al-Nasr had that. Brozovic. Ronaldo waits in the centre. And there he is. Two for Ronaldo. And surely, ten wins in a row is now in the bag for Al-Nasr. Another goal for Ronaldo. Another record for Al-Nasr. You cannot keep giving that man chance after chance after chance because he will punish you. He got away with it early in the game, our luck dude. One or two opportunities where you think that he would have scored. But he's not going to pass up a chance like this. I did question it at one point because if you look... There were two balls on the pitch. Yeah, I did wonder if the referee had seen it, if he was going to stop it. But Cristiano Ronaldo, his run, it's so intelligent. He gets across his defender to the front post. Knows exactly what Brozovic is going to do with the ball. Brozovic doesn't even look up. Cuts the ball back. And a wonderful finish from Cristiano Ronaldo. Well, that's interesting. The ball was thrown back by a member of the crowd onto the field. And when Ronaldo scored, there were two balls on the pitch. Don't tell him he wanted to score with that one as well. Well, the goal has been given. And that's a well on the way to 10 wins out of 10. Cristiano Ronaldo with both of the goals. Match weekend. What an incredible season. Can they keep it up? And certainly that the... That should be a fascinating game coming up. And it's Cristiano Ronaldo who gets the second half underway. He's scored both goals so far in the Russian-Saudi League. And he has a great opportunity here to take the match ball as Al Massa take the record. But at the top of the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to really impress. He works the play further wide. And here is Wesley. Wesley infield to Jao Felix. There's a man over here. And it's almost a third goal. Koeman hits the crossbar. A missed kick from Wesley. Nearly falls for Jao Felix. Wesley misses his kick. Defensive position. That's the ball from Felix into Koeman. Was it lucky there, Koeman? Well, there was no hint of a foul there. But maybe there. That's what they're looking at, isn't it? Petros with the challenge on Wesley. And, of course, it was Petros racing back into the penalty area after he was taken out by the referee. I think the referee's challenge on Petros was closer to it at this point of the season. It's been a fantastic start for him and his team. All this is. Jao Felix. Ronaldo waits in the centre. It's in towards Ronaldo. And it's a good header away by Hausuic. Now Wesley. Alhambra. Brozovic. He can set himself for the cross. Jao Felix. And it's too high. Opportunity for Brozovic. Similar ball into the box for Ronaldo. Ronaldo's just behind him. That's a good piece of defending from Hausuic. This season against Alfata. Yesterday. Ronaldo. Challenges come wiring in. The yellow card is shown to Al-Rubaiy. I think Ronaldo put in the first challenge and he says there was nothing doing. A little bit of trouble. It's Pedroza who was caught by Ronaldo. And Al-Rubaiy certainly caught Jao Felix. So Ronaldo just kind of lost the ball, didn't he? Just reaching. He does get a piece of the ball there, Ronaldo. I don't think that's a foul. But that certainly isn't. Jao Felix. It seemed to happen in January. So. You can't win the title then. But you could possibly lose it. Wesley. Crossing for Balcanam. And there's Ronaldo. And it's his first hat-trick since May of 2024 in the Russian Saudi League. His seventh for Al-Nasr. In the Russian Saudi League. And a moment of history for so many reasons. Ronaldo makes his mark. And Al-Nasr have the perfect ten. Ten wins in a row to start the season. And no one has ever done that before. And it's their talisman. It's their leader. It's their captain. It's a wonderful ball in from Al-Ghanam. It really is. Cristiano Ronaldo once again. He just smells danger. He knows where to be. He finds space in the box that nobody else will find. Peels away to the far post. Once again, it's an easy tap-in for him. But he makes it an easy tap-in. By his movement. By his awareness. Fantastic ball in from Al-Ghanam. And how many times have we seen that celebration? Well. It's not going to count. He's offside. Or an offside decision has been. That's a very unfortunate offside on this near side from either Will, Wesley or Al-Ghanam. I've got a feeling it's Wesley. Well, he's absolutely furious about it. Al-Saleem did just enough. Well, Ronaldo, I think, is still talking to the officials about who's offside. How much was the offside bound to stand? Maybe we'll see here just there. Al-Ghanam half a foot offside. That's why we brought VAR in for perfection. And it's done its job. As much as those in yellow Cristiano Ronaldo don't like it. I mean, it was a superb ball and a really good position. Our national drop-in at left-back is more familiar. There's going to be a number of changes made by Alok Martinez. Ronaldo. Xiao Felix. Al-Khabari. Abushal. Ronaldo waits in the centre. Al-Saleem. There'll be a delay. Well, you can vote for your man of the match by using the QR code on your screen now. Debut in the Russian-Saudi League. Abushal. Able to break into the penalty area here. Back to Xiao Felix! And that finishes things off. That's the night. It's a lovely ball over the top. It looks like a really well-timed run from Abushal on this near right-hand side. His first touch is superb. Takes him in behind the Alok Dude defensive line. Pulls it back to Xiao Felix. Just a similar opportunity only a minute or so ago. Cool, calm finish between the goalkeeper's legs and into the back of the net. Three goals and three more points. Really well picked out from Abushal. And it's a lovely first touch just to set himself. Goalkeeper comes rushing out. No panic. And Cristiano Ronaldo's team and here's Ronaldo's wait coming to an end this season. They've given themselves the perfect platform. It is finished. Alnasser 3, Alok Dude 0.