Cristiano Ronaldo found himself surrounded by a scuffle on Monday night as Al-Nassr were dumped out of the Asian Champions League – while Sadio Mane grabbed an opponent’s throat.
Ronaldo was caught in the centre of a fracas involving several dozen players, staff, and officials, though he didn’t get involved in any of the physical action.
Al-Nassr had lost 3-1 on penalties to Al-Ain in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League, having lost 1-0 away and then won 4-3 at home.
Ronaldo’s contribution to a crazy game included a 118th-minute spot-kick to take the game to penalties – but he was the only Al-Nassr man to convert his in a gutting defeat.
Mane was booked for gripping the throat of defender Kouame Autonne just a minute before Alex Telles scored the goal that took the game to extra-time.
اشتباكات بالجملة بعد نهاية المباراة 😨‼️#النصر_العين pic.twitter.com/5XX7MHPb3i
— KHALID ALOLYAN 🇸🇦🐪 (@OLYAN15K) March 11, 2024
Sadio Mané saw yellow for this exchange 👀 pic.twitter.com/511e41JMOW
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 11, 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo (number 7) was surounded by a fracas as Al-Nassr crashed out of the Asian Champions League
Sadio Mane had held an opponent by the neck during a chaotic game, which finished 4-3 before going to penalties after a 4-4 aggregate draw.
Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro looked incensed on the sideline, holding his own throat, but didn’t take off the Senegalese winger.
It all marked an ugly exit on Al-Nassr’s return to the Asian Champions League, a competition they reached the last four of in 2021/22.
Several individuals were involved in sharp pushes, with one chap tumbling to the floor under pressure from a player.
Ronaldo endured a horror miss when the Saudi side were drawing 2-2, missing from three yards with the goal gaping – and looking over at the linesman hoping to have his blushes spared.
All in the Al-Awwal Stadium were dismayed, including the Portuguese star, who covered his face in horror, and several of his team-mates.
Soufiane Rahimi put Al-Ain 2-0 up with two first-half goals before a goal from Abdulrahman Ghareb before the break gave Al-Nassr hope.
It was an evening of agony for Ronaldo, who saw thre of his team-mates squander penalties
Ronaldo inexplicably missed the target from only three yards out with the goal gaping
Still, the Saudis were 3-1 down on aggregate going into the second half.
An own goal from Khalid Eisa and a strike from Alex Telles for Al-Nassr meant the game would go to extra-time.
Al-Nassr’s hopes looked dashed again when Sultan Al-Shamsi netted 103 minutes in, but Ronaldo’s penalty with two minutes to spare took the game to spot-kicks.
That went horribly for the uber-rich Saudi side, however, as Otavio, Telles, and Marcelo Brozovic all squandered from 12 yards, maning Ronaldo’s penalty conversion was not enough.
Ronaldo and Mane still have two hopes of silverware this campaign.
The 39-year-old was stunned by his miss and looked to the official in the hope of seeing a raised flag
Al-Nassr were sent packing from the Asian Champions League after losing 3-1 on penalties
Technically, they are still in the race for the Saudi Pro League title, but they sit second and 12 poins behind frontrunners Al-Hilal.
They are also in the Saudi Super Cup semi-finals, where Al-Hilal stand in their way. Al-Hilal have won 29 games in a row across all competitions, including one 4-3 friendly win over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
