Frustrated Ronaldo and Al-Nassr Crash out of Saudi Super Cup

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9 Apr 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo's frustration boiled over as he received a red card during Al-Nassr's disappointing exit from the Saudi Super Cup final, suffering a 2-1 loss to Al-Hilal.

Match Report/Details

Ronaldo's frustrations began in the latter stages of the first half when a goal for his team was disallowed due to his offside position and attempted involvement in the play. Despite his efforts, the decision stood even after a VAR review.

Al-Hilal seized the initiative just after the hour mark when Salem Al-Dawsari capitalized on a pass from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to break through the Al-Nassr defense and find the back of the net. They nearly doubled their lead shortly thereafter when Malcom's long-range effort hit the post. Malcom eventually found the net with a well-placed header from a dangerous cross, putting his team in a commanding position.
In a rare offensive move from Al-Nassr, Ronaldo made a late attempt to score, but he appeared uncharacteristically off his usual pace, and his shot was easily blocked by Kalidou Koulibaly. Ronaldo's frustration boiled over, leading him to elbow an Al-Hilal player, resulting in a straight red card. He even expressed his anger towards the referee afterward.
Despite a late goal from Sadio Mane for Al-Nassr, it wasn't enough to turn the tide, and Al-Hilal advanced to the final.

The MOTM (Man of the Match)

Malcom, the Brazilian winger, proved to be a constant source of trouble for Al-Nassr throughout the latter half of the match. Despite his efforts, luck wasn't entirely on his side as he narrowly missed hitting the post with a powerful long-range shot that posed a serious threat.

Undeterred, he continued to press forward and came close to scoring on another occasion before eventually finding the back of the net with a well-deserved goal. His determination remained unwavering as he tirelessly sought to exacerbate Al-Nassr's woes by actively seeking opportunities to create more scoring chances for his team.

Ronaldo was the Big Loser Yesterday

The course of events could have taken a different turn had Ronaldo refrained from attempting to play the ball when it was directed towards the back post just before the halftime whistle. Despite being in an offside position when the ball was delivered, Ronaldo made an attempt to reach it, but his efforts fell short, leading to Otavio's goal being invalidated.

This decision visibly incensed the Portugal star, who vehemently protested and received a booking from the referee. Unfortunately, Ronaldo's frustration got the better of him later in the second half when he needlessly elbowed an Al-Hilal player, resulting in a red card and leaving his team at a numerical disadvantage.

Following their victory on Monday, Al-Hilal secured their place in the final match, setting up a showdown against Al-Ittihad, who emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Al-Wehda in the preceding semi-final match earlier in the day.

The highly anticipated final is scheduled to take place on April 11 at the prestigious Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. This match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for the championship title, with fans eagerly anticipating the outcome of what is sure to be a fiercely contested battle on the pitch.