Saudi’s Al Nassr has been displaying excellent form in recent weeks, especially after the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo to the team, which significantly impacted the sport in the country. In today’s match against Al Ettifaq, Ronaldo and Al Nassr initially faced a stroke of bad luck due to a VAR error. However, their fortunes turned as Sadio Mane managed to secure victory in the final minutes.
Before today’s game in the King’s Cup of Champions, Al Nassr had been enjoying a streak of undefeated matches and was considered the favorites. Cristiano Ronaldo was up against Steven Gerrard’s team, his former archrival from his Premier League days, making the match even more intense. Amidst the tightly contested game, some controversial moments unfolded.
A Critical VAR Decision Put Al Nassr at Risk
The match began on an even footing, with neither team able to score. In the 45th minute, Al Nassr had a golden opportunity when Brazilian striker Anderson Talisca struck the post with a shot. However, the goal was initially disallowed by VAR, which was checking for offside. The confusion arose because of Ronaldo’s presence in the penalty box, which led the referee to mistake him for an Al Ettifaq player.
Subsequently, things took a turn for the worse for Al Nassr when Talisca received a red card for a challenge on an opponent defender. But Al Nassr ultimately emerged victorious, thanks to Sadio Mane’s goal in the 117th minute. On the other hand, Ronaldo couldn’t find the back of the net for the Riyad team.
Cristiano Ronaldo Still Pursuing an Elusive Goal
Cristiano Ronaldo had yet to break his goalless streak against Al Ettifaq. He has not managed to score against his former arch-rival Steven Gerrard’s team. Despite an unfortunate decision by the referee disallowing a goal in the first half, Ronaldo had his opportunities but couldn’t convert them.
Ronaldo recently expressed that he doesn’t place much emphasis on records. The all-time highest goalscorer, with over 860 career goals, did score two crucial goals against Al Duhail in the AFC Champions League. After the match, Ronaldo stated, “Actually, I don’t care much about the records. I enjoy my time with Al Nassr.” Ronaldo will now shift his focus to upcoming games in a busy schedule, with Al Nassr set to face Al Duhail again in the second leg of the group stage.
Source: Opera News
