Postecoglou subs off Ronaldo to spark dramatic Al-Nassr comeback

What the report says

Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted at half-time as 10-man Al-Nassr trailed 2-0 to Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League, but the defending champions recovered to win dramatically on Tuesday, according to BBC Sport. Goalkeeper Bento was sent off early in the match, leaving Ange Postecoglou’s side with a difficult task before the interval. Ronaldo, making his first start since the World Cup, appeared unhappy when he left the field, but the change formed part of a tactical shift that helped turn the game around.

The comeback came late. Sadio Mane and Abdulelah Al Amri scored within a three-minute spell to level the match with 13 minutes remaining, and Mane then netted again in stoppage time to complete the turnaround. The result gave Al-Nassr their third straight league victory and sent them to the top of the table.

Postecoglou, who took charge of Al-Nassr last month after leaving Nottingham Forest in October, said the substitutions were made to change the dynamic and that the players who came on made an impact. BBC Sport also noted that Ronaldo, now 41, has suggested this season may be his last as a player, although that broader point was not directly linked to the match outcome.