Al-Nassr won 3-2 at Al-Ahli on Thursday to keep their the Saudi Pro League title hopes alive. Two goals from new signing Jhon Duran made the difference in Jeddah as the Riyadh side came away with an impressive victory despite playing with 10 men for almost the entire second half.
It means Al-Nassr remain in third place, just three points behind Al-Hilal and five behind league leaders Al-Ittihad, who play tomorrow and Saturday respectively.
The home fans were on their feet in the sixth minute when Riyad Mahrez fired home after running on to a long ball out of defense, but the former Manchester City star was offside.
Duran made no such mistake just after the half-hour mark. Ayman Yahya slipped a pass to the Colombian, who controlled the ball on the edge of the area and spun around in one swift movement before unleashing a shot that ended up in the bottom corner.
Just after the restart, Al-Ahli had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee, but a red card handed to Al-Nassr defender Mohammed Simakan, for an elbow on Ivan Toney, stood.
Toney got his revenge in the 78th minute, when he climbed majestically at the far post to head home a Gabri Veiga cross from the left, finally defeating an impressive Bento in goal.
The home fans might have expected Al-Ahli to continue to push forward in search of a win but it was to be the visitors who would score next, twice.
Yahya was up first, hitting the net on the second attempt after his first-time shot from the corner of the six-yard box was parried by Edouard Mendy.
Then, just before the end of the regulation 90 minutes, Duran produced a goal to remember. Running from the halfway line, he beat two defenders as if they were not there and then stroked a low shot home from just inside the area, sending the away fans wild with delight. It was a goal worthy of winning any game.
Sumaihan Al-Nabit pulled one back in the eighth minute of added time but it was too little too late for fifth-place Al-Ahli, who have otherwise been in great form in the league.
Earlier, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw red but his Al-Qadsiah teammates showed their mettle by coming from a goal behind and a man down to win 3-2 at Al-Shabab.
The Gabonese goal-getter was sent off with 11 minutes remaining, and his team 2-1 behind, but late goals from Ali Hazazi and Julian Quinones delivered a famous victory. Al-Qadsiah remain in fourth place in the league, trailing Al-Nassr only on goal difference.
