Video: Ronaldo’s Missed Penalty Seals Al-Nassr’s King’s Cup Exit

Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed penalty in stoppage time led to Al-Nassr’s elimination from the King’s Cup. The 1-0 defeat to Al-Taawoun on Tuesday was a significant blow. Ronaldo’s missed penalty was unexpected, especially for the five-time Ballon D’Or winner, who has yet to secure a major trophy since joining the club nearly two years ago.

Al-Nassr’s Struggle in the King’s Cup

In the round-of-16 of Saudi Arabia’s premier knockout competition, Al-Taawoun took the lead. Waleed Al-Ahmad scored with a header, leaving only 20 minutes on the clock. A foul by Al-Ahmad in the 95th minute gave Al-Nassr a chance to equalize. However, Ronaldo’s missed penalty shocked the home crowd of 14,519, as he shot over the bar.

Ronaldo’s Uncharacteristic Miss

Ronaldo had successfully converted all 18 of his previous penalties for Al-Nassr. This miss was a rare occurrence, adding to the disappointment. The defeat marked the first loss for Stefano Pioli, who took over as head coach from Luis Castro in September.

Future Prospects for Ronaldo and Al-Nassr

Despite the setback, Ronaldo and Al-Nassr still have opportunities for silverware this season. They trail leader Al-Hilal by six points after eight games in the Saudi Pro League. Additionally, they have accumulated seven points from three games in the Asian Champions League group stage.

Coach Pioli’s Perspective

Stefano Pioli expressed his thoughts after the match. “Technically we performed well but couldn’t win the game,” he stated. “We feel disappointed to be out of the cup. But we still have two trophies to go for and we will give our best in them.”