Al Nassr secured a dramatic 3-2 away victory over Al Ahli Jeddah, with Colombian striker John Durán once again proving his worth in the Saudi Pro League.
Durán, who joined in an €85 million package deal from Aston Villa, delivered a stunning brace, bringing his tally to four goals in just two league appearances.
Durán opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, giving Al Nassr an early lead. However, the visitors faced a major setback early in the second half when Mohammed Simakan received a red card in the 47th minute for a reckless tackle, forcing Al Nassr to battle with ten men.
Al Ahli capitalized on the numerical advantage, with Ivan Toney equalizing in the 78th minute. But Al Nassr responded immediately—Ayman Yahya restored their lead in the 80th minute before Durán struck again in the 88th minute with a spectacular finish to make it 3-1.
Sumayhan Al Nabit pulled one back deep in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late. The win keeps Al Nassr in contention for the Saudi title race, though a tough challenge remains with Al Ittihad and Al Hilal ahead in the standings. Nevertheless, as Al Qadisiya is close to Al Nassr with the same amount of points, an AFC Champions League spot is on the line, as every point and every goal counts.
Speaking of the Champions League — the AFC Champions League Elite could be a realistic target for the Nasrawys, who haven't won any major title since Cristiano Ronaldo joined the club.
Al-Hilal chase Ittihad, Ronaldo fumes as he's subbed, Al-Qadsiah stumble, and Benzema shines—Saudi Pro League heats up before break!