Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Saudi team Al-Nassr, showed bouts of anger again, received a yellow card, and was replaced by the coach towards the end, while he is still looking for the opening of his tally of goals at the stadium "Mrsool Park", the stronghold of Al-Nasr, despite his team's victory by a treble on Tuesday.
Al Nasr won 3-1 at home to Abha today to qualify to face Al Wahda in the semi-finals of the King's Cup, but Ronaldo did not leave a mark for the third consecutive match, although he shone remarkably before it.
🟡 A hat-trick that takes victory to the semi-finals🏆
📺 Watch the goals of the
match ⤵️ #MostTrophies#النصر_أبها | #SSC pic.twitter.com/lmNOmQf7re
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) March 14, 2023
Before the last 3 games, Ronaldo – who joined Al Nasr earlier this year on a two-and-a-half-year contract for what the media estimated at around 200 million euros per season – had contributed to 10 consecutive goals, scoring 8 goals and assisting twice.
But so far, Ronaldo has not opened his scoring tally at the Victory Stadium, and even came out frustrated today from his team's stadium despite qualifying.
Before the break, during Al Nasr's two-goal lead without reply, Ronaldo was in possession of the ball and had the opportunity to launch a counter-attack, but Latvian referee Andres Tremanis ended the first half before the "Don" completed his attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo got angry at the end of the first half. The referee declares the yellow 🟨 card #أغلى_الكؤوس
#النصر_أبها | #SSC pic.twitter.com/9KeUxKezzc
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) March 14, 2023
Ronaldo became angry, grabbed the ball with his hand and then fired it away with his foot, only for the referee to give him a yellow card.
Television footage showed Al Nasr coach Rudi Garcia speaking to the referee, who appeared to explain why the Portugal captain had been warned.
Ronaldo appeared upset and kicked water bottles next to the pitch before entering the tunnel, following Al Nasr's 1-<> loss to rivals Al Ittihad and losing top spot on Thursday.
#النصر_الاتحاد
Ronaldo is angry after the end of the match
they must win you dad!! 🥲There is no local
rule and no one told you to come a small team and submerged pic.twitter.com/ygPofIi3wi
💙— Rustic💙 Clouds (@anood__only) March 9, 2023
In the second half today, Al Nasr scored a third goal and then Abha reduced the deficit to 3-1, but the final moments of the match were also not happy for Ronaldo.
Garcia decided to replace Ronaldo in the 87th minute, and his teammate Anderson Talisca brought on the league's top scorer and returnee from injury.
Ronaldo from the bench 👀 #أغلى_الكؤوس
#النصر_أبها | #SSC pic.twitter.com/eFTBfeCSiN
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) March 14, 2023
Ronaldo, five-time Ballon d'Or winner, did not object to it, but he was dissatisfied while sitting on the bench and the focus was on the reaction of Real Madrid's all-time top scorer.
Garcia was quoted by local media as saying after the match: "Ronaldo's presence gives motivation to rival teams to present the match of a lifetime against him."
Ronaldo's famous celebration was not present at Al Nasr Stadium, but in fact it appeared in another Saudi stadium today, where Brazilian Michel Delgado of Al Hilal celebrated scoring in the opening goal in the manner of Cristiano.