Ronaldo scores 978th goal as Al Nassr beat Al Taawoun 2-1

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 978th career goal on Saturday, 29 August, securing a 2-1 victory for Al Nassr against Al Taawoun and maintaining the club's perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season. The match-winner follows a week of internal tension after manager Ange Postecoglou substituted the Portuguese captain during the previous fixture. Ronaldo secures comeback victory Al Nassr fell behind early when Mohammed Bassam Al Hurayji scored for Al Taawoun in the 11th minute. The Riyadh-based side leveled the score in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time through Samú Costa. The decisive moment arrived shortly after the interval following a run by Joao Felix, whose cut-back reached Mohamed Simakan. While Simakan’s shot appeared destined for the bottom corner, Ronaldo applied a six-yard flick to ensure the ball crossed the line. The goal sparked debate on social media regarding whether the ball was already goal-bound before Ronaldo’s intervention. However, the official ruling credited the 41-year-old with the strike, moving him within 22 goals of the 1,000-career-goal threshold. During the celebrations, Ronaldo initially bypassed his signature "Siu" routine until teammate Sadio Mané prompted him to perform the gesture for the crowd. Managerial decisions pay off The result justifies recent tactical risks taken by manager Ange Postecoglou. Earlier in the week against Al Ettifaq, Postecoglou substituted Ronaldo after goalkeeper Bento was sent off with the team trailing…