In the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, as thousands of Al Nassr fans were ready to celebrate in the stands, Brazilian goalkeeper Bento rushed out and missed a cross from an Al Hilal player, sending the ball into his own net. The camera immediately showed Cristiano Ronaldo clutching his head in the technical area, then sliding down his seat in disappointment. Meanwhile, a young Al Nassr fan gaped before covering their mouth in disbelief.
After the draw with their rivals, Al Nassr now has 83 points from 33 matches. Al Hilal remains in second place with 78 points from 32 matches. Jorge Jesus's team could have secured the championship at Al Awwal Park had it not been for Bento's mistake. This draw, however, postpones Al Nassr's celebration, though they still control their own destiny for the title if they win against Damac in the final round on 21/5.
Before the match on the evening of 12/5, all eyes were on Ronaldo. The stands were packed, and the 41-year-old forward was repeatedly filmed shaking hands with the referee and high-fiving children before kickoff. The stands were also filled with yellow and white, as Al Nassr distributed free shirts to home fans for the match.
Tension was palpable from the start. In the fourth minute, Karim Benzema missed a golden opportunity for Al Hilal, shooting directly at goalkeeper Bento in a one-on-one situation. Coach Simone Inzaghi even knelt by the touchline after the French forward's missed chance.
After being outplayed in the opening minutes, Al Nassr gradually regained control and scored in the 37th minute. From Brozovic's corner kick, the ball was headed on in the penalty area before finding center-back Mohamed Simakan. He struck with his right foot into the bottom corner, opening the scoring. This goal caused Al Awwal Park to erupt, with flashing light effects appearing.
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Simakan (right) celebrates Al Nassr's opening goal against Al Hilal at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the evening of 12/5/2026. Photo: Al Nassr |
Simakan (right) celebrates Al Nassr's opening goal against Al Hilal at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the evening of 12/5/2026. Photo: Al Nassr
Ronaldo did not score, but he remained a prominent figure on the field. In the 40th minute, he received the ball from Mane and unleashed a powerful right-footed long-range shot towards the top corner. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou had to make a flying save to deny him. This was Ronaldo's most dangerous shot in the first half.
Early in the second half, the Portuguese superstar nearly ignited the stands again. In the 46th minute, Kingsley Coman delivered a convenient cross from the right wing, but Ronaldo shot over the bar from an open position.
Ronaldo played 82 minutes, taking three shots but failing to score. When substituted, he urged the fans to cheer louder for the home team. His former teammate, Benzema, played only 69 minutes, taking two shots but failing to beat the Al Nassr goalkeeper. Before leaving the field, Benzema also embraced Ronaldo.
In the remaining minutes, coach Jorge Jesus received a red card for protesting. Meanwhile, Ronaldo at times could not even bear to watch the match from the technical area due to nervousness. He thought he could celebrate, until Bento's own goal. Immediately after Al Hilal's equalizer, the referee blew the final whistle.
Al Hilal will play their rescheduled match against Neom on the evening of 16/5, and if they do not win, Al Nassr will be crowned champions, regardless of the final round's result. Also on the evening of 16/5, Al Nassr will play the AFC Champions League Two final against Gamba Osaka.
Xuan Binh
