Cristiano Ronaldo was taken disconnected astatine half-time with his 10-man Al-Nassr broadside 2-0 down - earlier they fought backmost to seal a melodramatic triumph implicit Al-Ettifaq.
Defending Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr got disconnected to a dreadful commencement connected Tuesday erstwhile goalkeeper Bento was sent disconnected aft conscionable 12 minutes and they were 2 goals down astatine the break.
Ronaldo, 41, making his archetypal commencement since the World Cup, near the transportation successful vexation astatine half-time and was past substituted by manager Ange Postecoglou.
But Postecoglou's decisions proved to beryllium vindicated with Al-Nassr launching a second-half comeback.
Sadio Mane and Abdulelah Al Amri scored wrong 3 minutes to gully Al-Nassr level with 13 minutes to go, earlier erstwhile Liverpool guardant Mane got the victor successful added time.
The triumph helped Al-Nassr spell apical of the array aft 3 consecutive victories this season.
Former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest brag Postegoclou said Ronaldo, who dispersed his arms successful a questioning motion towards the seat erstwhile helium was substituted, was taken disconnected arsenic portion of a antithetic tactical approach.
"When I made the substitutions, including taking Ronaldo off, I believed the players coming connected could marque an impact," Postecoglou said.
"I came present to assistance the players, truthful arsenic I said, I'm arrogant of them due to the fact that each substitute made a affirmative contribution.
"I'm present to assistance the squad with what I see, and everyone knows that Ronaldo hasn't played successful a agelong time. He performed exceptionally good successful the archetypal half, and we opted for a antithetic approach."
Postecoglou took implicit astatine Al-Nassr past period aft being sacked by Forest past October pursuing conscionable 39 days successful charge.
Five-time Ballon d'Or victor Ronaldo joined his spouse Georgina Rodriguez earlier this period and has said this is likely to beryllium his past play arsenic a player truthful helium tin absorption much connected his family.
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