Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of clinching his first Saudi Pro League title with Al Nassr were dashed in dramatic fashion, as a costly own goal by goalkeeper Bento deep into stoppage time forced a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal on May 13. The match, held at Al Awal Park in Riyadh, saw Al Nassr needing only a win to seal the championship and fend off their rivals. However, with the score at 1-0 and the title seemingly within reach, Bento’s unfortunate mistake in the 97th minute redirected the ball into his own net, postponing the celebration.
Despite the setback, Al Nassr still holds a five-point lead over Al Hilal (83 points to 78), with Al Hilal having one game in hand. A victory in their upcoming match against Damac would secure the title outright.
The game started promisingly for Al Nassr, with Mohamed Simakan scoring the opener in the 36th minute. Joao Felix’s cross found Inigo Martinez, whose header set up Simakan for a close-range finish. Ronaldo, who was substituted off in the 37th minute of the second half, watched from the bench as his team maintained the lead until the final moments. The atmosphere in the stadium was jubilant, with fans anticipating the title win.
However, the late drama unfolded when Al Hilal earned a throw-in near the end. Bento rushed out to clear the ball but collided with teammate Inigo Martinez, failing to secure it properly as it trickled into the net. The goal was officially recorded as Bento’s own goal in the 97th minute.
Ronaldo, sitting on the bench, stared into the air in disbelief after the final whistle. Al Nassr recorded nine shots and an expected goals (xG) of 1.4, while Al Hilal managed seven shots and an xG of 0.8. A single error turned what should have been a title-clinching performance into a frustrating draw.
Despite the disappointment, Ronaldo remained positive and encouraged his teammates. Posting on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “The dream is close. Keep your heads up. We have one more step to go.”
Al Nassr now looks ahead to their next match, where a win will finally secure Ronaldo’s first league trophy in Saudi Arabia.
