Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed his first win of the season with Al-Nassr as they beat Shabab Al-Ahli 4-2 in the AFC Champions League qualifier on Tuesday - but it wasn't exactly plain sailing for the former Manchester United striker.
Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes alongside new teammates Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic, the pair among several high-profile Saudi Pro League arrivals this summer. An entertaining game saw Al-Nassr come out victorious in a lat-gasp turnaround at the KSU Football Field.
Ronaldo was denied a penalty when his overhead effort struck the hand of one of his opponents inside the penalty area, while the Portugal international also collided with one of the Shabab Al-Ahli players inside the box. Ronaldo also pushed someone out of the way as he made his way off the pitch for the break.
They went into half-time level at 1-1 against their opponents from the United Arab Emirates, with Ronaldo spotted leaving the pitch far from happy. The 38-year-old was seen pointing to his head and shouting 'wake up!' towards officials after they failed to award a penalty to his side.
He would have been even more fuming when Yahya Al-Ghassani got his second goal of the night to send Shalab Al-Ahli 2-1 up inside the first minute of the second half. Al-Nassr spent the remainder of the half pushing for an equaliser, eventually finding it in the 88th minute.
The clash looked set to go to extra-time until Talisca got a brace of his own to put Al-Nassr 3-2 up in the 95th-minute, all but guaranteeing their place in the Champions League group stages. and new signing Brozovic put the cherry on the cake, netting goal number four after being set up by Ronaldo.
Al-Nassr have now qualified for the group stage of the continental competition, with Ronaldo handed another chance at Champions League glory after winning the European version multiple times with Real Madrid and once with United.