Riyadh, 10 October (H.S.):

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to club football on Friday following a controversy involving Portugal’s national team, scoring the opening goal as Al-Nassr secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League.

The win took Al-Nassr level on points with league leaders Al-Qadsiah after eight rounds of the competition. However, Al-Nassr remained second in the standings on goal difference.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo had been away from the international setup during Portugal’s recent fixtures. In a detailed statement issued on Tuesday, he alleged that newly appointed coach Jorge Jesus had failed to honour his promise regarding the amount of playing time he would receive in the Nations League.

Ronaldo Nets 980th Career Goal

Ronaldo opened the scoring midway through the first half against Diriyah. Al-Nassr forward Kingsley Coman unleashed a shot from outside the penalty area, which goalkeeper Walid Abdullah managed to save. Ronaldo reacted quickly to the rebound and finished from close range to put his side ahead.

The strike marked the 980th goal of Ronaldo’s career.

Al-Nassr extended their advantage shortly before half-time, with Samu Costa finding the net to make it 2-0. Coman then sealed the victory by scoring the third goal 13 minutes from full time, completing a convincing performance by the Riyadh-based side.

Ronaldo had won the Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr in May under the guidance of Jorge Jesus. His return to club action following the controversy surrounding Portugal marked an important moment for the forward and his club.

Al-Qadsiah Register Emphatic Win

Earlier, Al-Qadsiah strengthened their position at the top of the standings with a commanding 5-0 victory over Al-Kholood.

Netherlands international Tijjani Reijnders opened the scoring, while Italy international Mateo Retegui and Mexico international Julián Quiñones were also among the goalscorers.

The emphatic victory enabled Al-Qadsiah to retain the top spot, keeping them ahead of Al-Nassr on goal difference.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar