https://arab.news/yav2a
- 5-1 win over Al-Fateh at Al-Awwal Park sees Riyadh club open up 4-point gap on rivals Al-Hilal
RIYADH: A Joao Felix hat-trick on Saturday saw Al-Nassr extend their lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League after a comprehensive 5-1 win over Al-Fateh at Al-Awwal Park.
The Riyadh club now have a maximum 15 points after five rounds of the SPL season, four more than second-place Al-Hilal, who earlier in the day beat Al-Ettifaq 5-0 in Dammam.
Going into the weekend’s fixtures, Al-Nassr held a three-point lead over reigning champions Al-Ittihad, who could only manage a 1-1 draw at Al-Fayha on Friday.
Portuguese playmaker Felix opened the scoring for Al-Nassr in the 13th minute with what turned out to be the only goal of the first half. The leaders were rocked when Algerian forward Sofiane Bendebka equalized for Al-Fateh in the 54th minute, but the setback proved to be just a temporary one for Al-Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo restored Al-Nassr’s lead on the hour mark with a sensational long-range strike, one minute after seeing his penalty saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper Amin Al-Bukhari.
Felix continued his excellent form since joining Al-Nassr this summer by scoring the Yellows’ third and fifth goals in the 68th and 80th minutes, while Frenchman Kingsley Coman got in on the act by scoring the fourth in the 75th minute.
Al-Nassr’s next match is away to Goa on Wednesday in AFC Champions League Two before they travel to Al-Hazem for their sixth clash of the Saudi Pro League on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Earlier on Saturday, visitors Al-Hazem defeated Al-Okhdood 2-1 to climb to 12th in the SPL table, while their hosts are now in 17th position.