Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 50th goal of the year to help Al-Nassr advance to the Saudi King Cup semi-finals with a 5-2 win at Al-Shabab.
Al-Nassr’s talisman bagged his 26th of the season as his team swept aside the hosts, with Sadio Mane on the scoresheet as well.
Ronaldo received the ball in the box 74 minutes into the match and took his chance with aplomb, bulleting a shot past the onrushing goalkeeper into the far corner.
It keeps Al-Nassr’s hopes of winning the competition alive, having not lifted the trophy since 1990.
They are one of the favourites left in the tournament alongside Neymar’s Al-Hilal and should they win, it would be Ronaldo’s second piece of silverware at Al-Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 50th goal of the year to keep Al-Nassr’s hopes alive in the Saudi King Cup
Former Premier League stars Ronaldo, Mane, and Aymeric Laporte all started for Al-Nassr.
Seko Fofana opened the scoring after 17 minutes before Carlos resotred parity seven minutes later.
Al-Nassr overpowered the hosts in the first half thanks to goals from Mane and Abdulrahman Ghareeb, with the latter coming on the stroke of half-time.
Ronaldo sealed the victory with a fine goal in the 74th minute, but Al-Shabab grabbed a consolation goal in the 90th minute via Hattan Bahebri.
The ex-Manchester United man is currently the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League with 16 goals in 15 games.
Al-Nassr sit second in the Saudi Pro League table but are seven points behind Al-Hilal.
Winning the King Cup seals qualification for the Asian Champions League, although a top-three league finish would be enough to secure a place.
