The Friday match between Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq ended in a surprising result, with Al-Ettifaq securing a 3-2 win, significantly complicating Al-Nassr's chances of winning the league title. One of the key figures of the match was Al-Ettifaq's goalkeeper, Marek Rodák, who delivered an excellent performance, saving several dangerous attempts from the opponent. According to sofascore.com, he was the best player of the match.

Slovak international Marek Rodák stood out with several crucial saves during the game. In the first half, he faced multiple shots from Al-Nassr's star forward, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo tried to break through, but Rodák was always in the right place, reliably stopping his attempts. In the 26th minute, Ronaldo received a pass inside the box and shot toward the center of the goal, but Rodák showed excellent reflexes and deflected the ball. A few minutes later, Ronaldo again threatened with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Rodák was ready once more and safely caught the ball. These saves kept his team in the game and provided much-needed assurance to his teammates.

The match was filled with dramatic moments. Al-Nassr took the lead in the 47th minute with a goal from Ayman Yahya, but Al-Ettifaq quickly responded with a 55th-minute equalizer from Georginio Wijnaldum. Al-Nassr regained the lead in the 65th minute with a header from Mohammed Al Fatil after a corner kick. However, in the 82nd minute, Al Fatil scored an own goal, allowing Al-Ettifaq to equalize. Just before the end of the match, in the 89th minute, Wijnaldum scored his second goal, securing Al-Ettifaq’s victory.

In added time, Al-Nassr striker Jhon Duran was sent off after hitting an opponent in the neck. This incident provoked a strong reaction from Cristiano Ronaldo, who vehemently protested the referee's decision and, in a fit of frustration, kicked the ball off the field. Throughout the match, Ronaldo was unable to beat Rodák, with his six shots on goal remaining fruitless.

The defeat for Al-Nassr significantly reduced their chances of claiming the league title, as they now trail league leaders Al-Ittihad by eight points. Nevertheless, Ronaldo remains the league's top scorer with 16 goals in 21 matches, just ahead of his former teammate Karim Benzema.

Al-Ettifaq's victory over Al-Nassr moved them up three places to 8th position in the table.

Marek Rodák’s performance in this match was crucial for Al-Ettifaq’s success. His steady saves and ability to withstand pressure from players of Cristiano Ronaldo's caliber showcased his high quality and importance to the team. With this performance, Rodák confirmed his position as one of the top goalkeepers in the league and contributed to his team's valuable victory.

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3OwVVIXP5k

Photo: FB Al Ettifaq, sofascore.com