New Delhi: Cristiano Ronaldo experienced a disappointing night as Al Nassr were knocked out of the King’s Cup of Champions Round of 16, suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Al Taawoun. Ronaldo, who had the chance to equalise in injury time with a penalty, missed the mark, sending his shot over the bar and leaving Al Nassr’s hopes dashed.
Al Nassr began with intensity, with Anderson Talisca almost putting them ahead in the third minute, only to be denied by a strong save from Al Taawoun’s goalkeeper, Mailson. Despite the hosts’ aggressive start, they struggled to create further clear-cut chances, while Ronaldo himself saw few opportunities to make an impact. His most promising attempt was a late freekick that Mailson also managed to stop.
Ronaldo knocks out Al Nassr after missing a penalty in the 96th minute that could’ve equalized😭😭
— S🕊️🇸🇪 (@8bdrssss) October 29, 2024
The match’s decisive moment came in the 71st minute when Al Taawoun took the lead. Waleed Al-Ahmed capitalised on a corner from Faycal Fajr, outjumping defenders to send a powerful header into Al Nassr’s net, putting the visitors ahead.
In a final twist, Al Nassr won a penalty in the dying moments of added time after Waleed fouled Mohammed Maran. With the game on the line, Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty, only to miss the target, much to the shock of the home supporters. The miss ended Al Nassr’s King’s Cup campaign and marked Ronaldo’s third early exit from the tournament since joining the club.
Ronaldo, visibly disappointed, now shifts his focus to Friday’s crucial Saudi Pro League fixture against league leaders Al Hilal, where he’ll aim to bounce back from this setback.
