Lost 1-2 in the semifinals against Al Hilal… Ronaldo receives first ‘red card’ since entering Saudi Arabia
Al-Nasr’s Cristiano Ronaldo receives a red card
‘Soccer star’ Cristiano Ronaldo (39) was sent off after receiving a red card for the first time since entering the professional soccer stage in Saudi Arabia, and his team Al-Nasr was eliminated in the semifinals of the Saudi Super Cup.
In the semifinals of the 2024 Saudi Super Cup against Al Hilal held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 9th (Korean time), Al Nasr was unable to overcome the numerical inferiority caused by Ronaldo’s sending off in the 21st minute of the second half and lost 1-2, failing to advance to the finals. .
The Saudi Super Cup is a competition played between the four winning and runner-up teams of the ‘Saudi King Cup’ and ‘Saudi Pro League’.
In the other semi-final match held earlier, Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Wehda 2-1, making the final match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal.
The ‘biggest variable’ in the semifinal win or loss between Al-Nasr, the 2023-2024 Saudi Pro League runner-up team, and Al Hilal, the Saudi King Cup winner, was Ronaldo.
Al Nasr seemed to take the lead in extra time in the first half when Ottavio rushed in and pushed in a cross from the right side with his left foot.
However, prior to Ottavio’s shot, Ronaldo, who was in an offside position, stretched out his foot first toward the flying ball, and Ottavio’s score was canceled as it was decided through video review (VAR) that Ronaldo actively attempted to shoot.
Al-Nasr, who finished the first half scoreless due to the disappointment of a canceled goal, gave up the first goal to Al Hilal’s Salem Al-Dosari in the 16th minute of the second half, and then conceded an additional goal through a header to Malcolm in the 27th minute of the second half, falling to 0-2.
Cristiano Ronaldo elbows Al Hilal player
Meanwhile, in the 21st minute of the second half, Ronaldo ran to catch a ball that went off the touch line near the center line, and while struggling with Al Hilal’s Ali Albulaich for the ball, he hit the opponent with his right elbow.
Ronaldo immediately received a red card and was sent off.
It was Ronaldo’s ‘first exit’ since he entered the Saudi stage by joining Al-Nasr in December 2022.
Al Nassr, who was outnumbered, scored a chasing goal in extra time in the second half through Sadio Mane, but there was not enough time to turn the game around.
Al Hilal continued the world record for ‘most consecutive wins’ with 33 consecutive wins. 고스톱