Bento Own Goal in 90th Minute Denies Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr Saudi Pro League Title Against Al Hilal

Cristiano Ronaldo cut a distraught figure at the final whistle at Alawwal Park on Monday, remonstrating with club officials and appearing close to tears after Al Nassr were denied the Saudi Pro League title in the cruellest of fashions. A 90th-minute own goal by goalkeeper Bento, under intense pressure during a goalmouth scramble, gifted Al Hilal a 1-1 draw and kept the championship race firmly alive.

The match, widely known as the “Derby of Fury”, delivered on its billing as a fiercely contested and physically demanding encounter between Riyadh’s two most decorated clubs. Jorge Jesus’s Al Nassr dominated the tactical exchanges in the first half, taking the lead through French defender Mohamed Simakan in the 37th minute. The goal came from a driving run by Kingsley Coman, with Simakan converting compositely to send the home support into raptures and raise the prospect of a title triumph for Ronaldo — who is yet to win a league championship since joining the Saudi Pro League.

Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal side, eager to protect an unbeaten run heading into the contest, pushed hard for an equaliser throughout the second period. Despite their defensive resolve, Al Nassr were unable to kill the game off, with Ronaldo, Coman, and João Félix all failing to convert opportunities that could have secured the points well before the dramatic finale.

The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time when Al Hilal sustained a sustained period of pressure culminated in Bento deflecting the ball into his own net, levelling at 1-1 and silencing the stadium. The result was a significant blow to Al Nassr’s title ambitions, as a victory would have moved them eight points clear of Al Hilal with only one match remaining, effectively guaranteeing them the championship.

Instead, Al Nassr remain on 83 points, five ahead of Al Hilal on 78, though the situation is complicated by the fact that Al Hilal still have a match in hand. That outstanding fixture means the title is not yet mathematically secured for the league leaders, and the final round of fixtures will carry enormous weight.

Addressing the outcome after the game, Ronaldo offered a measured response despite his visible distress on the pitch. “The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take! Thank you all for the amazing support tonight,” he said.

For Ronaldo, now 41, winning the Saudi Pro League title would represent a landmark achievement in the final chapter of his career. Since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, he has broken numerous scoring records in the competition but a league title has eluded him. Al Nassr’s remaining fixture now carries the full weight of that ambition, though the outcome will depend in part on how Al Hilal perform across their two remaining games.

The Saudi Pro League title race will conclude imminently, with Al Nassr requiring at least one more positive result to confirm what would be a historic crown for Ronaldo and the club.