Sadio Mané produced a match-winning brace as ten-man Al Nassr completed an extraordinary second-half comeback to defeat Al Ettifaq 3-2 in the Saudi Pro League.
Al Nassr appeared destined for defeat after losing goalkeeper Bento to an early red card and falling 2-0 behind before half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted during the interval, but his teammates delivered a remarkable response without their captain.
Mané opened Al Nassr’s account in the 74th minute before Ali Al-Amri equalised only three minutes later. The Senegal international then completed the comeback with his second goal in the 90th minute.
João Félix was another central figure in the turnaround, supplying two assists during a devastating three-minute spell that brought Al Nassr back into the contest.
Al Ettifaq vs Al Nassr Match Summary
- Final score: Al Ettifaq 2-3 Al Nassr
- Competition: Saudi Pro League
- Date: 25 August 2026
- Venue: Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam
- Al Ettifaq scorers: Ondrej Duda 31’, Álvaro Medrán 45+3’
- Al Nassr scorers: Sadio Mané 74’, Ali Al-Amri 77’, Sadio Mané 90’
- Red card: Bento 12’
- Key creator: João Félix, two assists
The result gave Al Nassr three victories from their opening three league matches, taking them to nine points and maintaining their perfect start to the season. ESPN’s league table placed them at the top with a goal difference of plus eight after three rounds.
Bento’s Early Red Card Changes the Match
Al Nassr’s game plan was disrupted inside the opening 12 minutes when goalkeeper Bento was shown a straight red card.
The Brazilian rushed outside his penalty area in an attempt to stop Moussa Dembélé but brought down the Al Ettifaq striker. The referee dismissed Bento for the challenge, leaving Al Nassr to play almost the entire match with ten men.
Angelo Gabriel was sacrificed as 18-year-old reserve goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi entered the match. The early dismissal forced Al Nassr into a more cautious shape and allowed Al Ettifaq to control possession and attack the visitors’ reorganised defence.
The hosts capitalised in the 31st minute through Ondrej Duda. Álvaro Medrán then doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time, sending Al Ettifaq into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo Substituted at Half-Time
Cristiano Ronaldo started the match and registered an effort on target, but Al Nassr’s numerical disadvantage limited his opportunities.
With his team two goals down and needing greater balance in midfield, Ronaldo was replaced by Abdullah Al-Khaibari at half-time. The decision gave Al Nassr another player in the central areas as they attempted to remain competitive with ten men.
It was an unusual situation for Al Nassr, but the second-half response demonstrated that the team could still threaten without its record-breaking captain on the pitch.
João Félix Ignites the Comeback
Al Nassr remained 2-0 behind until the 74th minute, when João Félix created the breakthrough.
The Portuguese attacker supplied Mané, who converted to reduce the deficit and give the visitors fresh belief. Félix then delivered his second assist only three minutes later, setting up defender Ali Al-Amri for the equaliser.
From appearing beaten at 2-0 down, Al Nassr had transformed the contest in the space of three minutes.
Félix remained dangerous throughout the match, recording three shots on target in addition to his two assists. His movement between midfield and attack helped Al Nassr progress the ball despite their numerical disadvantage.
His performance showed why he can be one of the club’s most important creative players. With opposing defences naturally paying close attention to Ronaldo and Mané, Félix can exploit the spaces that open around Al Nassr’s leading scorers.
Sadio Mané Scores Dramatic Late Winner
Mané completed the comeback in the 90th minute.
Sami Al-Naji created the winning goal, and the former Liverpool forward finished the opportunity to make it 3-2. The strike completed Mané’s brace and one of Al Nassr’s most impressive league victories.
The Senegal international ended the match with two goals from three shots on target. More importantly, both goals arrived when Al Nassr desperately needed a decisive attacking contribution.
Mané’s first strike gave his team hope. His second turned a potential defeat into three points.
The confirmed match timeline shows how quickly the contest changed: Al Nassr were still 2-0 down after 73 minutes but led 3-2 by the 90th.
What the Victory Means for Al Nassr
This was more than an ordinary league victory for Al Nassr. Playing almost 80 minutes with ten men, conceding twice and losing Ronaldo at half-time created an enormous test of the team’s mentality.
The response demonstrated several qualities required from Saudi Pro League title contenders:
- The resilience to recover from an early red card.
- Attacking quality beyond Cristiano Ronaldo.
- The ability to score late and decide close matches.
- Effective contributions from substitutes.
- Strong chemistry between Mané and João Félix.
There will still be concern about the defensive errors that allowed Al Ettifaq to establish a two-goal lead. Bento’s suspension will also force Al Nassr to adjust their goalkeeping plans for the next fixture.
However, maintaining a perfect record after surviving such a difficult match could provide a significant psychological boost. Champions often need to collect points when circumstances are against them, and Al Nassr did exactly that in Dammam.
Mané and Félix Deliver When Al Nassr Need Them Most
Mané deservedly takes the headlines after scoring twice, including the dramatic winner. Félix was equally important to the comeback, using his vision and delivery to create the first two goals.
Their partnership ensured Ronaldo’s half-time departure did not end Al Nassr’s hopes. Instead, the visitors became more aggressive as the second half progressed and punished Al Ettifaq for failing to protect their advantage.
For Al Ettifaq, the result will be deeply disappointing. They were two goals ahead against ten players with only 17 minutes remaining but failed to secure even a point.
For Al Nassr, it was a statement of determination—and evidence that the team possesses several players capable of deciding major matches.
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