Watch Ronaldo score brilliant winner to keep Al-Nassr title hopes alive

Al Nassr's big-money signing, Cristiano Ronaldo, came to their rescue as his second-half strike helped Faris Najd to a 3-2 victory over Al Shabab.

Dinko Jelicic's side hosted Shabab at Marsool Park as they looked to keep pace with league leaders Al-Ittihad. The hosts fought back from two goals down to grab a crucial victory in the title race.  

Al-Alami needed maximum points to ensure they stayed in the race to be crowned champions of the Saudi Professional League when they played host to Al Leith.

The hosts started poorly and were punished in the 25th minute when Cristian Guanca converted the resulting penalty from a foul on Ever Banega.  

The Argentine doubled Shabab's lead 15 minutes later, getting on the end of an assist by another former Valencia player, Santi Mina. 

The Knights of Najd, however, started the comeback in the first-half when star player Anderson Talisca pulled one back for Jelicic's side. 

Six minutes after the resumption of the second-half, winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb got on the end of Al-Hassan's assists to restore parity in the tie. 

Five-time Ballon d'Or proved class is permanent as he made a trademark run, cutting inside from the left half-space to release a curler into the mid-right corner.  

Al-Shabab raised the intensity as they looked to get an equaliser, but the hosts held on and Ronaldo's strike proved to be the winner.  

Al-Ittihad played simultaneously and also grabbed a victory, meaning despite Ronaldo's heroics, Al-Nassr remained three points behind the leaders with two league games to go. 

The defeat Al-Shabab sustained also comes as a favour to Odion Ighalo's Al-Hilal who are behind them in fourth, as it leaves them level on point.