Duran double decides Jeddah thriller for Al Nassr | OneFootball

Al Nassr’s latest signing Jhon Duran produced a second brace in as many Roshn Saudi League matches to lead the 10 men from Riyadh to an exhilarating 3-2 victory over rivals Al Ahli on the first day of Matchweek 20 on Thursday.

It was Al Ahli, though, who got off to a flying start, the vast majority of the 50,144 fans present at the newly renamed Alinma Stadium thinking their team had taken the lead inside six minutes.

Riyad Mahrez had snuck behind Al Nassr’s defence to control Roger Ibanez’s long ball and fire past away goalkeeper Bento into the back of the net, only to be denied by the offside flag.

At the other end of the pitch, there was no denying Duranon the half hour, when the Colombian picked up a short pass from winger Ayman Yahya, who had been brought on minutes earlier to replace the injured Otavio.

Duran, recruited last month from English Premier League side Aston Villa, took the ball on the turn and aimed for the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead.

First-half added time produced plenty of action inside Al Nassr’s penalty area. Gabri Veiga’s low delivery from the right took a deflection before it was helped over the goal line by an improvised Ali Majrashi finish.

The referee initially gave the goal, but in the ensuing VAR review, it was overruled for a foul by Ivan Toney in the build-up. At the same time, Al Nassr centre-back Mohamed Simakan received a direct red card for an elbow on the England international.

However, the hosts equalised in the 78th minute when Veiga delivered a pinpoint cross from the left that was met by a towering header from Toney. The former Brentford striker beat Bento for his 10th goal of the season, becoming the sixth player to reach double figures in the RSL this season.

Yet parity lasted merely a minute. Almost in an instant, Al Nassr substitute Ali Al Hassan found space down the right and crossed for Yahya, whose first shot was parried by Edouard Mendy. The ball fell back for the winger, who buried it home to put Al Nassr back in the driver's seat.

As the clock closed in on full-time, Marcelo Brozovic fed Duran just before the halfway line. What followed was a moment of magic as the 21-year-old embarked on a fine 40-yard solo run, beating two defenders and making his way into the Al Ahli box.

From there, he expertly kept his composure to finish at the near post for his fourth goal in two RSL matches.

With 10 minutes of time added, Al Ahli pushed on and were able to half the deficit seven minutes in. Substitute Sumayhan Al Nabit pounced on a rebound shot to sweep home from close range to make it 3-2, but it would prove too little too late for Matthias Jaissle’s men.

Duran’s masterclass seals a fifth consecutive win for Stefano Pioli’s men, who stay third but have now opened a six-point gap to Al Ahli in fifth. Crucially, Al Nassr have moved temporarily within three points of second-placed Al Hilal, the current champions, who take on neighbours Al Riyadh on Friday evening.