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The season of upsets continued as Al-Nassr bowed out of the King Cup following a narrow defeat that was widely blamed on Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed decisive penalty. It
The season of upsets continued as Al-Nassr bowed out of the King Cup following a narrow defeat that was widely blamed on Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed decisive penalty. It was a heart-wrenching game for the Riyadh-based club, leaving fans in shock and seriously questioning the form of the team in knockout competitions.
The King Cup clash of Al-Nassr was an intense affair from the first seconds of the game. Though Al-Nassr created a number of goal-scoring opportunities, they could not breakthrough the opponent’s defense. The match was all square by the end of regular time, and only a penalty shootout could decide their fate.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty miss confirms Al-Nassr’s EXIT from the King’s Cup 🤯 pic.twitter.com/G16s1CgSGv
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) October 29, 2024
During the shootout, when it really mattered, Ronaldo stood up to take one important spot-kick with many believing the Portuguese star would deliver as he has many times in his career. However, his shot hit the post, leaving the stadium and teammates dumbfounded. The opposition did not let this slip away and went on to convert their chances, knocking Al-Nassr out of the tournament.
It was a moment of utter surprise for many because Ronaldo is clinically precise during such high-intensity moments and rarely misses from the penalty spot. Stunned fans and analysts went to social media to remark on the situation, some defending the football legend, while others criticized the overall performance of the team.
This is an injury at the worst time, as Al-Nassr will be heavily involved with the Saudi Pro League and AFC Champions League. Ronaldo was in incredible form of late and now needs to pick himself up if the club are to remain on course in those respective tournaments.
This defeat means that Al Nassr has added to the succession of early frustrating results in Saudi’s domestic cup competitions. Poor consistency in knockout tournaments from a team full of the finest talent, new signings, and Ronaldo himself.
Luis Castro, Al-Nassr manager, was seemingly disappointed after the game, admitting that his team had let slip important moments in the match. “We fought hard, but we couldn’t make the most out of our chances,” Castro said in a post-match interview. “It’s painful to go out this way, but we need to regroup and focus on the challenges ahead.”
With the King Cup campaign over for Al-Nassr, attention now moves to the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League, which the club still have a mathematical chance to win. The supporters are praying that Ronaldo’s miss would be an isolated incident and the team would rebound from this setback as soon as possible.
While that is a disappointment, the season is by no means over, and Al-Nassr still do have chances to win some silverware. This removes some of the insecurity in the squad, though it certainly sends a message of just how important composure during high-pressure situations is.
Being the resilient and mentally tough athlete that he is, Ronaldo will surely try to put this rare mistake behind him. Fashioning his career on comebacks, the Portuguese superstar cannot afford less than a determined response in the matches ahead from his fans.
Though Al-Nassr’s journey in the King Cup might have finished a little ahead of time, their team remains very competitive in the competitions that lie further ahead, with Ronaldo in their midst.
