Cristiano Ronaldo swings off the bench and misses a golden opportunity from close range on a bleak night to forget, as Al-Nassr exits the King of Champions Cup in front of Al-Wahda with 10 players.
- Cristiano Ronaldo hit the crossbar and missed several key chances during the match
- Ronaldo hit the crossbar with an effort from a few yards out in the second half
- Abdullah Al-Hafez also got a second red card after a foul on Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo was furious with his teammates after Al-Nassr was knocked out of the King’s Cup for Champions by Al-Wahda in a big upset in Saudi Arabia.
Having beaten their opponents 4-0 just two months earlier – a match which saw Ronaldo score all four goals – the hosts were expected to reach the final and set up a heavyweight clash against Al Hilal.
But the newly promoted team had other ideas, and one goal was enough for them to secure a way to the final and knock Ronaldo Nasser out of the competition in the semi-finals.
Abdullah Al-Hafez lost the red card in the second half, with defender Ronaldo stumbling on the edge of the penalty area to grab his second yellow.
However, Ronaldo fired the free kick over the bar, and that was the story of his night as he missed several key chances – including a close-range effort and one that hit the crossbar – and left him furious in the face. His teammates and coaching staff are benched in the aftermath.
Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured right) left him furious on the bench when Al-Nassr were knocked out of the King’s Cup on Tuesday night
Ronaldo left the field shaking his head at half-time with his team trailing 1-0 in the match
Eventually he stormed off the field of play after missing a close range effort
The striker’s first attempt at goal came in the first few minutes, as he pulled a left-footed effort wide of the post.
He then volleyed a great chance from six yards straight into the fine Mounir Mohammadi past Al Wahda as he began to feel frustrated that he should have scored.
And not long after Jean-David Puguel gave the visitors the lead, with a defensive mix-up allowing the striker an acrobatic finish to put his side ahead, Ronaldo was looking to regain control.
The hosts and Ronaldo tried to get back into the game, only to find themselves trailing at the break, when the Portuguese striker seemed to get off the ground.
When the players left at half time, Ronaldo shook his head before facing his seat, clearly angry about something, before making his way off the field.
His team has now lost consecutive matches as they continue their mixed start in Saudi Arabia
The striker returned in the second half, and the task of returning was facilitated after Al-Hafez was sent off.
However, the newly promoted side defended well, taking some time out of the game, frustrating their hosts as the clock ticked down.
Taliscsa in particular had several chances before Ronaldo hit the crossbar in his latest failure to find the back of the net a few metres. He squatted with his hands over his head in frustration.
The five-time Golden Ball winner was unable to bring his team back into the match, and it was Al-Wahda who qualified for the final to face Al-Hilal.
