In a heated clash in Abu Dhabi, Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off late in the game as his side lost 2-1 to city rivals Al Hilal in their Saudi Super Cup semifinal on Monday.
Ronaldo, Portugal's record scorer, was shown a straight red card four minutes from time for elbowing an opponent. This incident occurred when Al Nassr was trailing 2-0, before scoring a late consolation goal.
After receiving the red card, Ronaldo was seen on video raising his fist in a punching gesture as the official walked away from the 39-year-old.
The defeat in the Super Cup semifinal increases the likelihood that Ronaldo will end the season without a trophy since his move to Saudi Arabia at the beginning of 2023. Al Nassr are already out of the domestic cup and the Asian Champions League, and they currently sit 12 points behind leaders Al Hilal with seven games left in the season.
Al Hilal took the lead in the 62nd minute when Salem Al-Dawsari scored from a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic flick after a quick break. Brazilian forward Malcom doubled the lead in the 72nd minute with a header after Michael's long cross from the right found him unmarked in the box.
Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané scored a consolation goal for Al Nassr in stoppage time off Abdulrahman Ghareeb's pass.
Al Hilal will face Karim Benzema's Al Ittihad in the final, as they seek a record-extending fourth title. Al Ittihad beat Al Wehda 2-1 in the earlier semifinal on Monday.
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