Al-Nassrs Saudi Pro League title hopes dashed by own goal

Al-Nassr’s Title Bid Foiled by Bizarre Injury-Time Own Goal

In a dramatic turn of events, Al-Nassr’s title hopes were dashed when their goalkeeper, Bento, scored an injury-time own goal against local rivals Al Hilal on Tuesday. The Riyadh-based club was leading 1-0 with seconds remaining in the match and was on the verge of securing its first Saudi Pro League title in seven years.

Al-Nassr had taken a commanding lead early in the game, but Bento’s mistake allowed Al Hilal to equalize and deny the team its championship. The goal came after an overhead save by Bento that sent the ball into his own net, leaving fans stunned and players frustrated.

The match was highly anticipated, with Al-Nassr seeking to clinch its 11th league title and Cristiano Ronaldo’s first domestic crown since joining the club in January 2023. Ronaldo, who captains Al-Nassr, was visibly disappointed on the bench as his team’s hopes were dashed.

The standings currently see Al-Nassr atop the league table with 83 points from 33 games, while Al Hilal are second on 78 points from 32 games. The final match of the season is set to take place against Damac on May 21, and Al-Nassr is favored to win the title.

In a post-match statement, Ronaldo expressed his disappointment, saying “The dream is close.”

Source: Al Jazeera