Wijnaldum Brace Denies Ronaldo as Al Ettifaq Hold Al Nassr 2-2.Al Ettifaq 2-2 Al Nassr: Wijnaldum's Dramatic Brace Ends Ronaldo's Perfect Run in Thrilling Saudi Pro League Clash.
On a tense evening at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam on December 30, 2025, Al Ettifaq pulled off a stunning comeback to hold league leaders Al Nassr to a 2-2 draw, ending their flawless start to the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season.
Georginio Wijnaldum, the former Liverpool midfielder and Al Ettifaq captain, stole the headlines with a brilliant brace, denying Cristiano Ronaldo and his star-studded teammates an 11th consecutive victory. Joao Felix and a fortuitous Ronaldo goal had seemingly turned the tide for the visitors, but Wijnaldum's late equalizer ensured the points were shared in a match packed with drama, controversy, and high-quality football.
This result snapped Al Nassr's remarkable 10-game winning streak, a run that had seen them surge to the top of the table with maximum points from their opening fixtures. Despite the draw, Jorge Jesus' side remain firmly in pole position, but the gap to pursuers like Al Taawoun and Al Hilal has narrowed, injecting fresh excitement into the title race as the calendar turns to 2026.
pre-Match Build-Up: A Test for the Unbeaten Leaders
Al Nassr arrived in Dammam riding a wave of momentum. Having dispatched Al Okhdood 3-0 just days earlier—with Ronaldo and Felix both on the scoresheet—they boasted a perfect record: 10 wins from 10, 33 goals scored, and a rock-solid defense. The additions of high-profile talents like Joao Felix (from Chelsea), Kingsley Coman, and Inigo Martinez had transformed them into a formidable force under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.
In contrast, Al Ettifaq sat comfortably mid-table in 8th or 9th place, with a solid but unspectacular record. Managed by Saad Al-Shehri, the hosts relied on experienced imports like Wijnaldum, Moussa Dembele, and goalkeeper Marek Rodak to punch above their weight. The matchup promised intrigue: could Ettifaq become the first team to take points off the runaway leaders?
Lineups confirmed Ronaldo's start alongside Felix in attack, with Marcelo Brozovic anchoring midfield and Sultan Al Ghannam providing width. Ettifaq fielded a resilient 4-4-2, with Wijnaldum pulling strings centrally and Dembele leading the line.
First Half: Controversy and Wijnaldum's Stunner
The game exploded into life early. In the 6th minute, Al Nassr left-back Saad Al-Nasser (or Saad Fahad in some reports) lunged into a challenge on Madallah Al-Olayan, prompting the referee to brandish a straight red card. Al Nassr were momentarily reduced to 10 men, but VAR intervened swiftly, downgrading it to a yellow. The visitors breathed a sigh of relief, but the incident galvanized the hosts.
Ettifaq capitalized on the momentum. In the 16th minute, Wijnaldum received the ball on the edge of the box during a swift counter. The Dutchman took a touch, created space, and unleashed a curling strike into the top-right corner— a vintage finish reminiscent of his Liverpool days. 1-0 to Ettifaq, and the home crowd erupted.
Al Nassr dominated possession thereafter, peppering Rodak's goal with efforts. Sultan Al Ghannam struck the crossbar from 25 yards, and Kingsley Coman tested the keeper, but Ettifaq's defense—marshaled by Jack Hendry and Abdullah Khateeb—held firm. Ronaldo, unusually quiet in the first half, failed to register a shot on target.
This result snapped Al Nassr's remarkable 10-game winning streak, a run that had seen them surge to the top of the table with maximum points from their opening fixtures. Despite the draw, Jorge Jesus' side remain firmly in pole position, but the gap to pursuers like Al Taawoun and Al Hilal has narrowed, injecting fresh excitement into the title race as the calendar turns to 2026.
pre-Match Build-Up: A Test for the Unbeaten Leaders
Al Nassr arrived in Dammam riding a wave of momentum. Having dispatched Al Okhdood 3-0 just days earlier—with Ronaldo and Felix both on the scoresheet—they boasted a perfect record: 10 wins from 10, 33 goals scored, and a rock-solid defense. The additions of high-profile talents like Joao Felix (from Chelsea), Kingsley Coman, and Inigo Martinez had transformed them into a formidable force under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.
In contrast, Al Ettifaq sat comfortably mid-table in 8th or 9th place, with a solid but unspectacular record. Managed by Saad Al-Shehri, the hosts relied on experienced imports like Wijnaldum, Moussa Dembele, and goalkeeper Marek Rodak to punch above their weight. The matchup promised intrigue: could Ettifaq become the first team to take points off the runaway leaders?
Lineups confirmed Ronaldo's start alongside Felix in attack, with Marcelo Brozovic anchoring midfield and Sultan Al Ghannam providing width. Ettifaq fielded a resilient 4-4-2, with Wijnaldum pulling strings centrally and Dembele leading the line.
First Half: Controversy and Wijnaldum's Stunner
The game exploded into life early. In the 6th minute, Al Nassr left-back Saad Al-Nasser (or Saad Fahad in some reports) lunged into a challenge on Madallah Al-Olayan, prompting the referee to brandish a straight red card. Al Nassr were momentarily reduced to 10 men, but VAR intervened swiftly, downgrading it to a yellow. The visitors breathed a sigh of relief, but the incident galvanized the hosts.
Ettifaq capitalized on the momentum. In the 16th minute, Wijnaldum received the ball on the edge of the box during a swift counter. The Dutchman took a touch, created space, and unleashed a curling strike into the top-right corner— a vintage finish reminiscent of his Liverpool days. 1-0 to Ettifaq, and the home crowd erupted.
Al Nassr dominated possession thereafter, peppering Rodak's goal with efforts. Sultan Al Ghannam struck the crossbar from 25 yards, and Kingsley Coman tested the keeper, but Ettifaq's defense—marshaled by Jack Hendry and Abdullah Khateeb—held firm. Ronaldo, unusually quiet in the first half, failed to register a shot on target.
Halftime: Al Ettifaq 1-0 Al Nassr.
Second Half: Nassr's Quickfire Comeback
Al Nassr emerged from the break with renewed vigor. Just 60 seconds into the second period— the 46th or 47th minute—Joao Felix equalized. The Portuguese forward latched onto a through ball, drove forward, and slotted a low shot into the bottom-left corner past Rodak. 1-1, and the momentum swung decisively.
The visitors pressed relentlessly. In the 66th or 67th minute came one of the night's most bizarre moments. Felix, again the architect, unleashed a powerful shot from a similar position. The ball cannoned off Ronaldo's back—standing in an offside position but not interfering intentionally—and wrong-footed the keeper, nestling into the net. Ronaldo's 957th career goal, his 13th in the league this season, and a trademark "Siuuu" celebration followed. Al Nassr led 2-1, and their perfect record seemed secure.
Ronaldo's strike brought him level with historical benchmarks, matching records set by past SPL greats at this stage of the season. Felix, too, reached 13 goals, underscoring the duo's lethal partnership.
Late Drama: Wijnaldum Haunts Nassr Again
With Al Nassr controlling proceedings and Ettifaq chasing shadows, a draw seemed unlikely. But football's beauty lies in its unpredictability. In the 80th minute, substitute Radhi Al-Otaibi launched a long ball forward. Wijnaldum timed his run perfectly, met the cutback in the box, and fired a clinical low shot past the despairing dive of Al Nassr's goalkeeper. 2-2!
The stadium erupted as Wijnaldum wheeled away in celebration, his brace rescuing a vital point for the hosts. Al Nassr threw everything forward in the dying minutes—Ronaldo's left-footed effort whistled wide, and corners were repelled—but Ettifaq held on. Full-time: Al Ettifaq 2-2 Al Nassr.
Ronaldo's Al-Nassr drop first points of season in dramatic ...
Key Match Statistics
StatisticAl EttifaqAl NassrPossession 38% 62%
Shots 10 26
Shots on Target 5 8
Corners 4 10
Fouls 12 9
Yellow Cards 2 3
Red Cards 0 0
Al Nassr's dominance in shots and possession highlights their pressure, but Ettifaq's clinical finishing—led by Wijnaldum—proved decisive.
Second Half: Nassr's Quickfire Comeback
Al Nassr emerged from the break with renewed vigor. Just 60 seconds into the second period— the 46th or 47th minute—Joao Felix equalized. The Portuguese forward latched onto a through ball, drove forward, and slotted a low shot into the bottom-left corner past Rodak. 1-1, and the momentum swung decisively.
The visitors pressed relentlessly. In the 66th or 67th minute came one of the night's most bizarre moments. Felix, again the architect, unleashed a powerful shot from a similar position. The ball cannoned off Ronaldo's back—standing in an offside position but not interfering intentionally—and wrong-footed the keeper, nestling into the net. Ronaldo's 957th career goal, his 13th in the league this season, and a trademark "Siuuu" celebration followed. Al Nassr led 2-1, and their perfect record seemed secure.
Ronaldo's strike brought him level with historical benchmarks, matching records set by past SPL greats at this stage of the season. Felix, too, reached 13 goals, underscoring the duo's lethal partnership.
Late Drama: Wijnaldum Haunts Nassr Again
With Al Nassr controlling proceedings and Ettifaq chasing shadows, a draw seemed unlikely. But football's beauty lies in its unpredictability. In the 80th minute, substitute Radhi Al-Otaibi launched a long ball forward. Wijnaldum timed his run perfectly, met the cutback in the box, and fired a clinical low shot past the despairing dive of Al Nassr's goalkeeper. 2-2!
The stadium erupted as Wijnaldum wheeled away in celebration, his brace rescuing a vital point for the hosts. Al Nassr threw everything forward in the dying minutes—Ronaldo's left-footed effort whistled wide, and corners were repelled—but Ettifaq held on. Full-time: Al Ettifaq 2-2 Al Nassr.
Ronaldo's Al-Nassr drop first points of season in dramatic ...
Key Match Statistics
StatisticAl EttifaqAl NassrPossession 38% 62%
Shots 10 26
Shots on Target 5 8
Corners 4 10
Fouls 12 9
Yellow Cards 2 3
Red Cards 0 0
Al Nassr's dominance in shots and possession highlights their pressure, but Ettifaq's clinical finishing—led by Wijnaldum—proved decisive.
Player Performances and Standouts
Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq): Man of the Match. His two goals were masterpieces: a curled beauty for the opener and a composed finish for the equalizer. The 34-year-old's leadership and composure under pressure evoked memories of his Champions League heroics.
Joao Felix (Al Nassr): Instrumental in the comeback, scoring one and assisting the other (albeit unintentionally). His movement and vision terrorized Ettifaq's backline.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr): Scored his 957th career goal in comical fashion but was otherwise subdued. Still leads the SPL scoring charts with 13 goals.
Marek Rodak (Al Ettifaq): Several crucial saves kept his team in the game.
Defensively, Inigo Martinez struggled, at fault for both Wijnaldum goals.
Post-Match Reactions and Implications
Jorge Jesus lamented missed chances: "We dominated but football punishes you if you don't kill the game." Ronaldo, ever optimistic, posted on social media: "We are on the right path and we know what we need to do in 2026!"
For Ettifaq, it was a statement result, boosting them in mid-table (around 16 points). Al Nassr top the standings with 31 points from 12 matches (10 wins, 1 draw, 1 implied prior or wait—actually 10-1-0 before, now 10-1-1? Wait, pre-match 10-0-0 or 10 wins, then draw makes 10-1-0, 31 points).
The draw opens the door for chasers. Al Hilal, with a game in hand, could close the gap significantly.
PositionTeamPlayedPoints1 Al Nassr 12 31
2 Al Taawoun ? ~28
3 Al Hilal 11 ~26
... Al Ettifaq 12 ~16
(This table approximates based on reports; Al Nassr's lead is now vulnerable.)
Ronaldo's quest for 1,000 career goals continues—he needs 43 more. This quirky back-deflection goal added to his legend, even in defeat (or draw).
Broader Context in the Saudi Pro League
The SPL's global appeal shines through such matches: European stars like Ronaldo, Felix, Coman, and Wijnaldum clashing in high-stakes drama. Al Nassr's streak evoked comparisons to Al Hilal's dominant runs, but Ettifaq's resilience reminds us why the league is increasingly competitive.
As 2025 ends, this draw serves as a reality check for Al Nassr. Can they regroup and reclaim invincibility in 2026? Or will Wijnaldum's heroics inspire others to challenge the throne?
This thrilling encounter encapsulated everything captivating about modern Saudi football: skill, stars, surprises, and sheer entertainment.
This thrilling encounter encapsulated everything captivating about modern Saudi football: skill, stars, surprises, and sheer entertainment.
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