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Al Nassr Drop Points Without Suspended Cristiano Ronaldo Despite Talisca Scoring a Hat-Trick Against Al-Hazm

Al Nassr dropped two precious points in the Saudi Pro League after being held to a remarkable 4-4 draw by Al-Hazm. Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for the game.

Robert Summerscales

Al Nassr Drop Points Without Suspended Cristiano Ronaldo Despite Talisca Scoring a Hat-Trick Against Al-Hazm
Al Nassr Drop Points Without Suspended Cristiano Ronaldo Despite Talisca Scoring a Hat-Trick Against Al-Hazm /

Al Nassr dropped two precious points in the Saudi Pro League after being held to a remarkable 4-4 draw by Al-Hazm.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed Thursday's home game through suspension after being hit with a one-match ban for making obscene gestures towards Al-Shabab fans last week.

Talisca shone as Al Nassr's lead frontman in Ronaldo's absence by scoring a hat-trick.

But defensively, Al Nassr were simply not good enough. The home side led four times and still failed to win against the team that started the day bottom of the SPL.

After goals from Ahmad Al Mhemaid, Toze and Faiz Selemani had canceled outĀ Talisca's trio of strikes, Al Nassr went ahead again when Sadio Mane converted a penalty kick in the 94th minute.

But Paulo Ricardo scored Al-Hazm's fourth equalizer five minutes later.

Cristiano Ronaldo pictured watching Al Nassr's 4-4 draw with Al-Hazm from an executive box at King Saud University Stadium in February 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo watched Al Nassr's 4-4 draw with Al-Hazm from an executive box at King Saud University Stadium / Saudi Sports Company

Thursday's result left Al Nassr six points behind unbeaten Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, who have played one game fewer.

At the other end of the table, Al-Hazm - who lost 5-1 at home to Al Nassr back in September - rose one place to 17th thanks to Thursday's point.

TaliscaĀ has now scored 16 goals in 17 Saudi Pro League matches this season - having netted 20 times in each of the previous two campaigns.

However,Ā Ronaldo is still Al Nassr's leading scorer this term with 22 goals in 20 SPL appearances.

The 39-year-old former Real Madrid forward is likely to be back in action on Monday when Al Nassr take on Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final.

Highlights: Al Nassr 4-4 Al-Hazm

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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.