Stefano Pioli averted an embarrassing first defeat as Al-Nassr head coach as Nawaf Bu Washl’s 92nd minute winner noticed the guests beat second tier Al-Hazem within the King’s Cup on Monday.
Pioli, taking cost of his second recreation for the Saudi Professional League membership, noticed his facet go near opening the scoring early on when Talisca’s effort struck the woodwork.
However Al-Nassr’s dominance was rewarded within the sixth minute of first-half harm time when Sadio Mane headed past Ibrahim Zaid after Sultan Al Ghannam’s cross.
Nevertheless, the hosts surprised Pioli’s facet simply after the hour-mark as Basil Al Sayyali turned dwelling his second objective of the season with an emphatic end off the crossbar.
Al-Nassr’s frustrations continued heading into the closing levels as Mane, Mohammed Marran and Wesley noticed efforts repelled by their plucky opponents.
However with the sport poised for extra-time, a defensive mix-up between Saud Al Rashed and Zaid allowed Bu Washl to steal in, ending into an empty internet to place the guests into the hat for the following spherical.
|| Full time,@AlNassrFC 2:1 #AlHazem
Mane
Boushal pic.twitter.com/X7MoPiHPiI— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) September 23, 2024
Knowledge Debrief: Pioli feels Ronaldo absence
With out Cristiano Ronaldo of their ranks, Al-Nassr lacked a medical finisher on the high finish of the pitch, failing to capitalise on the alternatives they created.
The guests ended the competition with an anticipated objectives (xG) complete of three.16, however solely eight of their 21 pictures have been on course, while additionally they missed 5 massive possibilities.
Mane was the notable standout for Pioli’s facet, registering extra touches within the opposition field (eight) and complete pictures (5) than anybody for Al-Nassr.
