Sadio Mane: Senegal star applauds fans after bitter AFCON 2023 exit to Ivory Coast
FootballCristiano Ronaldo's Four 'Explosive' Moments in Al Nassr's Defeat to Al Hilal in Riyadh Season Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo suffered defeat in his first game of 2024
- His Al-Nassr side stumbled to a 2-0 defeat against Al-Hilal
- The 39-year-old's frustration was evident during the game
There was a showdown between two formidable teams in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, as they faced off in the championship match of the Riyadh Season Cup on Thursday.
The Blue Waves emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, courtesy of goals scored by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Al-Dawsari.
Al-Nassr endured a nightmare start, falling behind after just 17 minutes thanks to the goal by the Serbian ex-Lazio star.
Cristiano Ronaldo's side found their situation worsening further after Al-Dawsari extended the lead for the Blue Waves in the 30th minute, Arab News reports.
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In an effort to change the course of the match, coach Luis Castro implemented half-time substitutions, bringing in Senegalese international, Sadio Mane, and Saudi defender, Ali Lajami.
Despite Al-Nassr's attempts to stage a comeback, the Knights of Najd were unable to break through, and the SPL leaders maintained their defensive resilience to secure a 2-0 victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo's meltdown against Al-Hilal
Ronaldo, returning from injury for the match, faced difficulties contributing to the losing team. His frustration was evident throughout the evening.
Firstly, the 39-year-old reacted to the opposing fans chanting Lionel Messi's name in the stadium by seemingly stating, 'I'm Cristiano, not Messi'.
The Portugal captain grew increasingly frustrated with both Al-Nassr's performance and his own, directing his displeasure towards centre referee, Tori Penso.
Ronaldo's dissatisfaction with a decision led to him receiving a yellow card for dissent, appearing to gesture for the referee to be 'sent home', according to Yard Breaker.
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FootballAfter the final whistle, players and coaches from Al-Hilal paid tribute to the Al-Nassr players with a guard of honour. Ronaldo took the lead but became upset with a worker who was blocking his path.
As he made his way back to the locker room, a jersey was thrown at Ronaldo by an Al-Hilal fan. The veteran picked it up from the ground, rubbed it against his groin, and then tossed it aside.
This behaviour from Ronaldo is highly unusual, indicating he may be experiencing personal stress due to his recent injury.
Whatever the reason, Al-Nassr would certainly require him to be completely focused for the crucial remainder of the season.
Al-Nassr vs Al-Hilal gets WWE Legend as guest
Sports Brief also reported that the Riyadh Season Cup final between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr witnessed an unexpected and thrilling addition.
A video circulating on social media has depicted the surprise appearance of WWE legend, The Undertaker, donning his iconic wrestling attire.
With his dramatic entrance accompanied by his renowned theme song, fans were taken aback and excitement reached a fever pitch.