By Newsdesk | August 26, 2026
Al Nassr produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the young Saudi Pro League season, recovering from a two-goal deficit and playing most of the match with 10 men to defeat Al Ettifaq 3-2 on Tuesday.
The extraordinary turnaround came after goalkeeper Bento was sent off in the 12th minute, while captain Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted at halftime with Al Nassr trailing 2-0.
Rather than collapse, Al Nassr transformed the game in the closing stages. Sadio Mané scored twice, including the late winner, while defender Abdulelah Al Amri added the equaliser as the reigning Saudi champions maintained their perfect start to the 2026-27 league campaign.
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Bento Red Card Changes Al Nassr’s Game Plan
Al Nassr’s problems began early.
Brazilian goalkeeper Bento was shown a straight red card in the 12th minute after coming out of his area and bringing down Al Ettifaq forward Moussa Dembélé.
The dismissal forced Al Nassr into an immediate reshuffle, with teenager Abdulrahman Al Otaibi introduced in goal as Angelo Gabriel made way.
Al Ettifaq took advantage of their numerical superiority.
Ondrej Duda opened the scoring in the 31st minute, before Álvaro Medrán doubled the home side’s lead in first-half stoppage time.
Al Nassr went into the break 2-0 down, a man short and facing what looked like an extremely difficult route back into the contest.
Why Was Cristiano Ronaldo Substituted?
One of the biggest talking points came at halftime when Al Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou replaced Cristiano Ronaldo with Abdullah Al Khaibari.
Ronaldo appeared frustrated by the decision as Al Nassr prepared for the second half.
Postecoglou later explained that the decision was tactical and also related to Ronaldo’s recent lack of match minutes.
The Al Nassr coach said Ronaldo had done his job during the opening half, but playing with 10 men required the team to adopt a different approach after the break. Ronaldo had only recently returned to action after missing Al Nassr’s opening matches of the season.
That decision inevitably generated headlines because of Ronaldo’s global profile, but what happened next shifted attention toward the team’s remarkable response.
Sadio Mané Sparks Incredible Al Nassr Comeback
Al Nassr continued to push despite their numerical disadvantage.
Sadio Mané thought he had pulled a goal back shortly after halftime, but the effort was ruled out following a VAR review.
The breakthrough finally came in the 74th minute.
Mané converted after being set up by João Félix, reducing Al Ettifaq’s advantage to 2-1.
Only three minutes later, Al Nassr were level.
Abdulelah Al Amri scored in the 77th minute, with Félix again involved in the build-up, completing an extraordinary three-minute burst from the visitors.
Suddenly, a match that appeared lost was there for Al Nassr to win.
Mané Scores Dramatic Late Winner
The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute.
Al Nassr broke forward quickly before Sami Al Naji found Mané, who finished from inside the penalty area to make it 3-2.
The goal was checked by VAR before being awarded, completing one of Al Nassr’s most memorable recent league victories.
Mané finished the match with two goals, while João Félix played a major creative role in the second-half recovery.
Al Ettifaq vs Al Nassr Goals
| Minute | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 31′ | Ondrej Duda | Al Ettifaq |
| 45+3′ | Álvaro Medrán | Al Ettifaq |
| 74′ | Sadio Mané | Al Nassr |
| 77′ | Abdulelah Al Amri | Al Nassr |
| 90′ | Sadio Mané | Al Nassr |
Al Nassr won 3-2 despite playing with 10 men from the opening stages.
What Postecoglou Said After the Comeback
Postecoglou focused less on the Ronaldo substitution and more on the character shown by his players.
The former Tottenham manager praised Al Nassr’s willingness to keep fighting despite the red card, difficult conditions, two-goal deficit and tactical problems they faced.
For Postecoglou, the comeback demonstrated something beyond technical quality: the mentality of his squad.
That message is significant for Al Nassr as they attempt to successfully defend their Saudi Pro League title.
Al Nassr Maintain Perfect Saudi Pro League Start
The victory kept Al Nassr at the top end of the 2026-27 Roshn Saudi League standings with a 100% start after three rounds.
They opened their league campaign with a 3-0 victory over Al Fateh before beating Al Riyadh 4-0, a match in which Ronaldo returned and scored after coming off the bench.
The Al Ettifaq match, however, presented an entirely different challenge.
Playing almost the entire contest with 10 men and recovering from 2-0 down showed Al Nassr can win when a match moves far away from their original game plan.
Ronaldo Substitution Will Keep Fans Talking
Ronaldo remains one of the world’s most searched footballers, so his halftime substitution will inevitably dominate discussion around the result.
But the sporting story is arguably even bigger.
Al Nassr were two goals behind, a player down and without Ronaldo on the pitch, yet scored three times in the final stages to take all three points.
Mané delivered the goals, Félix provided creativity and Postecoglou’s tactical changes helped turn what looked like a defeat into a remarkable victory.
For Al Nassr, it was three more points.
For the Saudi Pro League, it was already one of the matches of the season.
Questions
What was the Al Ettifaq vs Al Nassr score?
Al Nassr defeated Al Ettifaq 3-2 in the Saudi Pro League on August 25, 2026.
Did Cristiano Ronaldo score against Al Ettifaq?
No. Ronaldo started the match but was substituted at halftime while Al Nassr were trailing 2-0.
Why did Al Nassr substitute Ronaldo?
Ange Postecoglou explained that Ronaldo had recently played limited football and that Al Nassr needed a different tactical setup after being reduced to 10 men.
Who scored for Al Nassr against Al Ettifaq?
Sadio Mané scored twice, while Abdulelah Al Amri scored once.
Did Al Nassr get a red card?
Yes. Goalkeeper Bento was sent off in the 12th minute.