During Al-Nassr’s Saudi Super Cup semifinal against Al-Hilal, Cristiano Ronaldo received a red card for elbowing an opponent, Ali Al-Bulayhi, late in the game. This incident occurred during second-half stoppage time, where Ronaldo thrust his elbow at Al-Bulayhi’s chest and throat before seemingly gesturing towards the referee with his fist.
Despite Sadio Mané scoring for Al-Nassr after Ronaldo’s expulsion, Al-Hilal secured a 2-1 victory with goals from Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom. Al-Hilal’s win marked their 33rd consecutive victory under manager Jorge Jesus, setting a new record for the most consecutive wins in men’s soccer.
Despite Otávio’s disallowed goal and Al-Nassr’s efforts, including Mané’s consolation goal, the victory firmly belonged to Al-Hilal. This latest disciplinary issue adds to Ronaldo’s prior suspension earlier in the year for an inappropriate gesture during a Saudi Pro League match. With this defeat, Ronaldo and Al-Nassr are unlikely to clinch a trophy this season, as they are also trailing in the SPL standings. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal advances to the Saudi Super Cup final against Al-Ittihad.
