Al-Nassr’s 10-Game Win Streak Ends as Wijnaldum’s Brace Salvages 2-2 Draw
Ronaldo’s 957th career goal wasn’t enough as Al-Ettifaq’s 45 clearances frustrated leaders in Dammam
Dammam, December 30 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s 957th career goal came off his back in the 67th minute, but it wasn’t enough. Georginio Wijnaldum’s 80th-minute equalizer gave Al-Ettifaq a 2-2 draw at Prince Mohamed Bin Fahd Stadium on Tuesday, ending Al-Nassr’s 10-game Saudi Pro League winning streak. The dropped points leave Al-Nassr just three clear of Al-Hilal, who have a game in hand.
Wijnaldum opened the scoring in the 16th minute before João Félix equalized right after halftime. Ronaldo’s deflected shot put Al-Nassr ahead, but the former Liverpool captain struck again to earn Steven Gerrard’s side their first point against the league leaders this season. The draw was Al-Nassr’s first in the league this campaign.
Stats Tell the Story
| Category | Al-Nassr | Al-Ettifaq |
| Possession | 66.8% | 66.8% |
| Total Shots | 26 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 4 |
| Corners | 16 | 1 |
| Pass Accuracy | 89.3% | 79% |
| Clearances | 12 | 45 |
Al-Nassr dominated every metric except the one that mattered. They fired 26 shots to Al-Ettifaq’s six and earned 16 corners to one. But Al-Ettifaq scored two goals from just four shots on target, a 50% conversion rate that exposed Jorge Jesus’ defensive frailties. Marek Rodák made six saves to keep Al-Ettifaq in the match.
Ronaldo Reaches 957 But Chases Milestones
The Portuguese forward’s goal was his 13th in 11 Saudi Pro League matches this season, tying João Félix for the golden boot lead. It moved him to 957 career goals, 43 away from the 1,000-goal mark he’s targeting before his contract expires in June 2026. At his current rate, he’ll hit the milestone in late April during the AFC Champions League quarterfinals.
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The goal also confirmed an unwanted record. Ronaldo finished 2025 without scoring a hat-trick for the first time since 2010. He managed 41 goals across all competitions in the calendar year but never scored three in one match, a 14-year streak snapped.
Wijnaldum’s Double Sinks Leaders
The 34-year-old Dutchman scored in the 16th and 80th minutes to take his season tally to seven goals. His opener came after he beat Iñigo Martínez with a step-over and curled a shot past Nawaf Alaqidi. His second exploited Al-Nassr’s defensive confusion after Jorge Jesus made three substitutions in 90 seconds. Radi Al-Otaibi played a through ball, and Wijnaldum stayed onside by inches before slotting under the advancing keeper.
The brace was Wijnaldum’s first for Al-Ettifaq since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. His celebration with the home crowd mirrored his days at Anfield, where he scored crucial goals in Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League run.
VAR Reverses Early Red Card
Referee Abdullah Al-Hilali showed Al-Nassr left-back Saad Al-Nasser a straight red card in the fifth minute for a challenge on Madallah Al-Olayan. VAR intervened after a two-minute review. The replays showed Al-Olayan wasn’t in control of the bouncing ball when Saad went through him. Per IFAB Law 12, denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity requires the attacker to have clear possession, he didn’t. The red became yellow.
Had the red stood, Al-Nassr likely won 4-1 with numerical advantage for 85 minutes. Instead, the VAR call kept the match competitive and ultimately cost Jorge Jesus’ side two points.
Title Race Tightens
Al-Nassr stays top with 31 points from 11 matches. But Al-Hilal sits three points behind with a game in hand. If Neymar’s side beats Al-Raed on Thursday, the gap closes to zero on goal difference. Al-Taawoun is third on 28 points and faces bottom-placed Al-Fateh this week.
The dropped points hurt because Al-Ettifaq entered the match in 12th place with just five wins from 10 games. This was supposed to be routine. Instead, it’s Al-Nassr’s first draw since October 26 and hands momentum to their title rivals ahead of the January 8 Saudi Super Cup semifinal against Al-Hilal.
Gerrard’s Low Block Frustrates Jesus
Steven Gerrard set up in a 5-4-1 after Wijnaldum’s opener, parking his back five 25 yards from goal. The 45 clearances weren’t panic, they were instructions. Al-Ettifaq booted everything long and forced Al-Nassr wide. Jorge Jesus persisted with his high defensive line despite Wijnaldum exploiting the space twice. Iñigo Martínez, the 34-year-old former Barcelona center-back, got beaten for pace on both goals.
Jesus didn’t adjust until the 75th minute, bringing on three substitutes at once. The changes disrupted Al-Nassr’s rhythm, and Wijnaldum punished the confusion five minutes later. Rodák’s six saves and Al-Ettifaq’s organized shape nullified Al-Nassr’s 16 corners, none produced a goal.
What’s Next
Al-Nassr hosts Al-Khaleej on January 4 before facing Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup semifinal four days later. That match could define their season, lose and the title race swings decisively toward their rivals. Ronaldo’s 1,000-goal chase continues at a pace that projects the milestone for late April, likely during continental competition if Al-Nassr advances in the AFC Champions League.
Match Details:
- Final Score: Al-Ettifaq 2-2 Al-Nassr
- Scorers: Wijnaldum 16′, 80′ (Al-Ettifaq); Félix 46′, Ronaldo 67′ (Al-Nassr)
- Venue: Prince Mohamed Bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam
- Attendance: 24,318
- Referee: Abdullah Al-Hilali
