Cristiano Ronaldo penalty enough as Al Nassr return to winning ways at Al Ahli

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Cristiano Ronaldo struck from the penalty spot as Al Nassr returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Al Ahli.

Ronaldo comfortably converted his 23rd goal of the Saudi Pro League campaign after 68 minutes, sending Edouard Mendy the wrong way following Roger Ibanez’s poor challenge on Sami Al-Najei.

Al Nassr’s success ended a run of four without a win in all competitions and reduced the gap on leaders Al Hilal to nine points.

Merih Demiral came close to putting Al Ahli ahead eight minutes before half-time but his header from Riyad Mahrez’s corner bounced back off the crossbar.

VAR then took centre stage as Portugal forward Ronaldo ran on to Sadio Mane’s pass, three minutes before the break.

Ronaldo rounded Mendy and finished from a tight angle, but was adjudged to have been offside after a lengthy VAR check.

Al Ahli had an effort ruled out in similar fashion after 57 minutes when Allan Saint-Maximin found Roberto Firmino in front of the Al Nassr goal.