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Al-Nasser Sadio Mane’s first-half goal secured a decisive 1–0 victory over Al Riyadh, which proved enough to separate the sides in a stalemate. Cristiano Ronaldo.
The hosts started brightly and threatened first within the opening ten minutes. A set-piece routine almost caught Al-Nasr out when Sergio Gonzalez met Tose’s delivery with a left-footed effort that hit the crossbar and gave the visitors an early warning.
Joao Felix was central to much of Al-Nasr’s attacking play during the opening half, frequently finding pockets of space between the lines. He tested Milan Borgen twice from distance, though both efforts were comfortably saved. Sadio Mane also started to look on goal after a corner, but his close-range effort went just wide.
The breakthrough came in the 40th minute after the most fluid move of Al-Nasr’s half. Felix split Al Riyadh’s defense and threaded a well-weighted ball into the penalty area.
Mane timed his run well, took the ball in stride and finished low into the bottom-left corner with his right foot.
Al Riyadh tried to respond before the interval, pushing their bodies forward and continuing to look dangerous from wide areas, but they went into the break a goal behind.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Al Riyadh applying pressure without creating clear openings. They won a series of corners and advanced free kicks, but Al-Nasr’s defensive line held firm, with Mohamed Simakan and Inigo Martinez working with aerial deliveries. Borjan’s opposite number was rarely tested, though Abdulrahman Gharib and Felix both missed opportunities to extend the lead at the break.
Al-Nasr had a chance to put the game out of reach midway through the second half. Sultan Al Ghannam hit the post with a close-range header following a corner, while Mane saw a shot blocked after good work down the right. That miss kept Al Riyadh in contention and prompted the hosts to field more players.
The closing stages were tense. Al Riyadh pushed men into the box and forced several late corners, including one in stoppage time.
A potential penalty appeal involving Mane was reviewed by VAR in the 97th minute, but no spot-kick was awarded to the visitors’ relief.
Despite Al Riyadh’s persistence, clear-cut chances were limited, Yoan Barbet’s late header representing their closest effort since the break.
Al-Nasr carefully managed the final moments, using substitutions to slow the tempo and Protect their interests.
