In a highly charged Saudi Super Cup semifinal clash at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Cristiano Ronaldo found himself at the center of controversy as his ill-tempered actions overshadowed the match’s proceedings. Al Nassr faced a 2-1 defeat against Al Hilal, but it was Ronaldo’s red card in the 86th minute that stole the spotlight.
The match saw Al Hilal take control with second-half goals from Brazilian striker Malcolm and Saudi World Cup star Salem Al Dawsari, putting them in a commanding position. However, the game took a dramatic turn when Ronaldo, in a desperate attempt to retrieve the ball for a throw-in, elbowed Al Hilal’s Ali Al Bulayhi, leading to a touchline melee between players from both sides.
Referee’s decision to show a straight red card to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner further intensified the chaos, with Ronaldo even raising his fist at the official. As he made his way off the field, Al Hilal fans taunted Ronaldo with chants of Messi’s name, adding insult to injury for the Portuguese superstar.
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Despite a late consolation goal from Sadio Mane for Al Nassr in the 99th minute, it proved to be too little, too late as Al Hilal secured their spot in the final.
Al-Hilal will now set their sights on their fourth Saudi Super Cup title as they prepare to face Al-Ittihad in Thursday’s final. In the earlier semifinal, Al-Ittihad, led by Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, secured a 2-1 victory over Al-Wehda, setting the stage for an intriguing final showdown.
The incident involving Ronaldo has sparked debate and garnered widespread attention, highlighting the intense rivalry and drama surrounding the Saudi Super Cup.
