Ronaldo scores twice as Al-Nassr thrash Al-Shabab

Cristiano Ronaldo struck a brace to help Al Nassr secure a 4-0 win over Al Shabab in the Saudi Pro League in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The Portuguese superstar got things underway in the 13th minute as he converted from the spot after a handball in the Al Shabab penalty area. He added to his tally five minutes later with a header only for the goal to be disallowed for a push on a defender.

Ronaldo scored his second goal in the 36th minute after Iago Cuellar brought him down in the penalty area, allowing the Al Nassr captain to double the lead.

He then set up the team's third with a pass from the centre to the right of the Al Shabab penalty area for Sadio Mane. The Senegalese slotted the ball home with a sliding finish.

The Saudi club fell to defeat in its first two league matches of the season, putting Ronaldo and company in an early hole in the title race, but since, they've scored nine goals and conceded none across their last two matches. Ronaldo has scored five of those goals, following up his hat-trick against Al Fateh last time out with a brace here at home.

Sultan Al Ghanam bagged the other to finish off the scoreline for Al Nassr. Al Shabab, meanwhile, finished the game with 10 men as Ever Banega was sent off for a terrible tackle and will be facing a ban in the near future.

Ronaldo could have had a second hattrick in as many games but he offered the penalty which came Al Nassr's way in the 63th minute to Abdulrahman Ghareeb. The winger struck the post and failed to add a fourth.