Stefano Pioli celebrated his inaugural win as the head coach of Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, leading his team to a decisive 3-0 triumph over Al-Ettifaq at Al-Ettifaq Stadium.
The Italian manager, renowned for guiding AC Milan to the Serie A title in 2022, took the reins on Wednesday after Luis Castro was dismissed due to a sluggish start to the season, boasting only one win in three league matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo made a triumphant return to the pitch after missing Al-Nassr's recent AFC Champions League Elite match against Iraq's Al-Shorta, sidelined by a viral infection. Demonstrating his clutch performance, Ronaldo converted a penalty in the 33rd minute, marking his third goal of the season.
The second half saw Salem Al Najdi amplify the lead with a goal from a tight angle in the 56th minute, followed by Anderson Talisca sealing the victory with a precise low drive.
With this win, Al-Nassr climbed to fourth place on the league table. In contrast, Al-Ettifaq suffered their first defeat of the season, while Steven Gerrard's team maintained their position in third place.
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Ronaldo converts penalty as Pioli takes first win with Al-Nassr
cgtn.com
