As the game neared its end and extra time was added, Al Nassr, trailing 0-1, got a crucial chance—a penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo, the seasoned superstar, stepped up to take the shot, but, unexpectedly, he missed. This miss on Tuesday night became the final blow, knocking Al Nassr out of Saudi Arabia’s prestigious King’s Cup. Al-Taawoun secured their place in the quarterfinals with a narrow 1-0 win in the Round of 16, thanks to Walid Al-Ahmed’s decisive goal in the 71st minute.
Just when Al Nassr seemed on the brink of a comeback, Al-Ahmed’s foul in the fifth minute of added time gifted them a shot at redemption. Yet, in a surprising turn, Ronaldo’s attempt soared over the bar—an uncharacteristic miss after converting his previous 18 penalties since joining the Saudi club. With this exit from the King’s Cup, Al Nassr’s trophy hopes now lie in two other competitions. They trail league leaders Al Hilal by six points in the Saudi Pro League after eight games, and they currently hold 7 points in three AFC Champions League group matches.
On the same night, Neymar’s Al Hilal celebrated a resounding 4-1 victory over Al Tai, securing their own path to the quarterfinals.
