Al Nassr Held Despite Dominance as Wijnaldum Strikes Twice
Key Takeaways
- • Al Ettifaq salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw against Al Nassr in Dammam
- • Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice to cancel out João Félix and Cristiano Ronaldo goals
- • Al Nassr dominated with 66.8% possession and 26 shots but lacked cutting edge
- • Al Ettifaq's goalkeeper produced six crucial saves to deny the visitors victory
DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA — Georginio Wijnaldum's equalizer in the 80th minute rescued Al Ettifaq from the brink of defeat, securing a hard-fought 2-2 draw against a dominant Al Nassr side at Al Ettifaq Club Stadium. The Dutch midfielder's brace proved the difference on a night when the visitors controlled proceedings but couldn't find the killer instinct.
Al Nassr's dominance began early, peppered the goal with 26 attempts compared to Al Ettifaq's six, yet found themselves chasing the game after just 16 minutes. Wijnaldum opened the scoring with a composed finish, silencing the traveling support and setting the tone for an afternoon of frustration for the visitors. The goal came against the run of play, but Al Ettifaq's clinical edge in that moment proved their greatest weapon. Wesley Ribeiro had already been booked in the second minute, setting a physical tone that would define the contest. João Félix restored parity just two minutes into the second half, slotting home with the kind of composure that justified his star billing. The Portuguese forward's strike seemed to signal the inevitable avalanche, especially when Cristiano Ronaldo rifled home in the 67th minute to complete what looked like a decisive turnaround. But Wijnaldum had other ideas, ghosting into space 10 minutes from time to stun Al Nassr and claim his second of the match.
The tactical battle revealed Al Nassr's superiority in every metric except the one that mattered most. They controlled 66.8% of possession, pinning Al Ettifaq back for long stretches and creating wave after wave of attacks. Their pressure yielded 16 corners, yet time and again they found Al Ettifaq's goalkeeper in inspired form. The home custodian made six saves, several of them spectacular, to keep his side in contention when the statistics suggested capitulation. Saad Al Nasser picked up a yellow card in the 10th minute as Al Nassr's frustration mounted, while Faris Al Ghamdi saw yellow on the stroke of halftime for Al Ettifaq's persistent resistance.
The numbers painted a stark picture of Al Nassr's wastefulness. Seven shots on target from 26 attempts told the story of a team creating chances but lacking the ruthlessness to bury them. Al Ettifaq, by contrast, managed four shots on target from just six attempts, converting two and forcing their goalkeeper into heroics for the others. The efficiency gap proved decisive, with Stefano Pioli's substitutions—Nawaf Boushal at halftime, Abdullah Al-Khaibari and Aiman Yahya later—unable to unlock the stubborn home defense.
The turning point arrived not with Ronaldo's goal, which seemed destined to be the winner, but with Al Ettifaq's refusal to accept defeat. Radhi Al-Otaibi's introduction in the 73rd minute added fresh legs, while Mukhtar Ali's arrival 10 minutes earlier had already shifted momentum. When Wijnaldum struck in the 80th minute, it felt like justice for a side that had defended with such determination and attacked with such precision when opportunities arose. Khalid Al-Ghannam's late substitution helped see out the final minutes as Al Ettifaq held firm through a nervy conclusion.
Looking ahead, Al Ettifaq will host Al Okhdood on January 2, while Al Nassr host Al Ahli on the same date, with both sides seeking to build momentum in the new year.