Malcom Left Cristiano without Trophies. Ronaldo Knocked Down an Opponent & Nearly Collided with the Referee

Al Hilal, in a display of sheer dominance, extended their awe-inspiring record-breaking streak.

Just when it seemed like everything was going well for Cristiano, another scandal involving the Portuguese unfolded. His Al Nassr lost to Al Hilal in the Saudi Arabia Super Cup semi-final, leaving Ronaldo without a trophy this season. This turn of events surely stirred up a mix of disappointment and frustration for the football star.

Both teams approached the crucial match in excellent form. After exiting the Asian Champions League, Al Nassr secured four consecutive victories, with an overall score of 15-1 and seven goals from their Portuguese star in these matches. On the other hand, Al Hilal was dominating on all fronts, boasting a historic football record of 32 consecutive wins with a goal difference of 91-13! The stage was set for an epic clash, with Ronaldo's potential to challenge Al Hilal's record-breaking streak adding to the excitement.

In their previous league encounter, Al Hilal had achieved a resounding 3-0 victory. Ronaldo was visibly frustrated but couldn't do much against the stellar opponent on the field.

The story repeated itself in the Super Cup semi-final. Al Hilal played from a position of strength, attacked more frequently, and consistently created scoring opportunities.

However, their opponents missed a clear chance from the flanks in the first half's final seconds, which Otavio capitalized on. Moments before that goal, Ronaldo had touched the ball from an offside position, leading to the cancellation of Al Nassr's goal.

Malcom was typically outstanding, but Al Hilal's first goal was constructed by Milinkovic-Savic and Al-Dosari in the 61st minute. Five minutes after the opening goal, Malcom rattled the crossbar with a long-range shot and finally scored in the 73rd minute. The diminutive Brazilian positioned himself well and headed in a cross from the right flank.

In the remaining time, Ronaldo was the central figure. The Portuguese exploded in the 86th minute, slowly simmering and provoked by opponents. First, he elbowed Ali Al-Bulaihi in the face, a persistent opponent who had already clashed with Messi at the 2022 World Cup. Then, seeing the referee's red card, he almost threw a punch but restrained himself at the last moment. Sarcastic applause and the tossed captain's armband were part of the traditional Portuguese ensemble.

Without Cristiano, Al Nassr scored only one goal back, reminding everyone of the once-prominent Sadio Mane in Saudi Arabia. But that was all. Malcom helped Al Hilal secure their 33rd consecutive victory, and Al Nassr can now officially focus on assisting Ronaldo in achieving personal milestones.

Published by Patrick Jane
09.04.2024