Ronaldo's Al Nassr fails to clinch title after awful last-second goalkeeper error

TL;DR

Al Nassr missed the Saudi Pro League title after a last-second error by goalkeeper Bento, who allowed an own goal during a crucial match against Al Hilal. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, preventing Ronaldo from celebrating his first major title with the club.

Key points

Al Nassr was seconds away from winning the Saudi Pro League title
Goalkeeper Bento made a last-second error leading to an own goal
The match ended in a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal
Cristiano Ronaldo was disappointed on the bench
The title race remains alive for Al Hilal

Mentioned in this story

Cristiano Ronaldo

Al NassrAl Hilal

Ronaldo's Al Nassr fails to clinch title after awful last-second goalkeeper error

Al Nassr was seconds away from winning the Saudi Pro League title on Tuesday, May 12 but a stunning last-minute error from goalkeeper Bento put the celebrations on hold.

Bento let a last-second throw-in slip through his hands and in for an own goal, giving Al Hilal a 1-1 draw and keeping the title race alive.

Cristiano Ronaldo was crestfallen on Al Nassr's bench after the Portuguese superstar looked certain to celebrate his first major title since joining the club in 2023.

Instead, there is still a chance Al Hilal can overtake Al Nassr to snatch the league title away.

Mohamed Simakan put Al Nassr in front with a 37th-minute strike at Al-Awwal Park, and that goal looked like it would stand up as the game entered second-half stoppage time.

But Al Hilal's Sergej Milinković-Savić launched a long throw-in with the final whistle nearing, and Bento charged off his line only to fumble a simple catch backwards and just over the line.

A defender tried in vain to keep the ball out, and it crossed the line with only 10 seconds left of the eight allotted minutes of stoppage time.

As it chases its first league title since 2018-19, Al Nassr maintained a five-point lead over second-place Al Hilal with the draw. But Al Hilal has two games remaining in its league season, while Al Nassr has just one.

Jorge Jesus' side can clinch the Saudi title with a win over Damac on May 20, or if Al Hilal fails to beat Neom on May 16.