Al-Kholood 3-3 Al-Nassr: Talisca penalty spares visitors' blushes

Al-Nassr needed a late penalty from Talisca to salvage their unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season, drawing 3-3 with Al-Kholood at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

With talisman Cristiano Ronaldo absent from the side, Al-Nassr missed the chance to go within a point of leaders Al-Hilal, who face Al-Okhdood later on Friday.

Al-Kholood stunned the visitors with just 12 minutes gone when Jackson Muleka picked out Myziane Maolida, with the striker riding a challenge before finishing beyond Bento.

But Stefano Pioli's side restored parity two minutes later when Aymeric Laporte notched his third goal in as many games with a guided header into the far corner.

Al-Nassr soon found themselves in front when Sadio Mane saw his effort saved by Marcelo Grohe, only for the rebound to fall kindly into the path of Talisca to finish.

However, it was then the hosts' turn to provide a quick response, with Maolida grabbing his second with a fine finish from the edge of the area to level the game at the break.

But in their attempts to find a winner, Al-Nassr were hit with a sucker punch when Muleka turned home from close range after good work from substitute Hammam Al Hammami.

Al-Kholood looked set to claim a famous victory until goalscorer Muleka was penalised for a handball in the box in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, with Talisca stepping up to snatch a point for the visitors.

|| Full time,@AlNassrFC 3:3 #AlKholood pic.twitter.com/p7i46Wtd1V

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) October 25, 2024

Data Debrief: No Ronaldo, no party

While Al-Nassr salvaged a point late on, the performance further signified Ronaldo's importance to the team, with the Portugal captain having notched eight goal contributions (six goals, two assists) in his first seven games of the season.

The visitors did, however, have their chances. They ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.76 from their 18 shots, though only eight of those efforts were on target.

But Al-Nassr were saved by the impressive Talisca. He contributed a whopping 1.82 xG to his side's total, while also registering more shots on target (four) than any of his team-mates.