Cristiano Ronaldo returned to reality again after losing - on Tuesday - his team Al-Nasr by two goals without a response to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Professional Football League.
The Portugal striker moved to victory in a huge deal last January to boost the hopes of the club's fans to win the title absent since 2019.
Despite Ronaldo's strong start and contributing 10 goals in his first 5 games with Al Nasr, he failed to score a big net.
In the Super Cup clash with Al Ittihad, Ronaldo did little to lose his team in the semifinals.
Shots after the end of the derby 🏟 #الهلال_النصر | #SSC pic.twitter.com/yuvz7611Hd
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) April 18, 2023
Hopes were pinned on Real Madrid's all-time top scorer in the second league clash against Al Ittihad himself, but he was content to watch his team lose the lead to their opponents, who have not won the title since 2009.
It was repeated against Al Hilal in the first match after the departure of French coach Rudi Garcia, leaving Ronaldo under the guillotine of criticism in a tournament that some in Europe may have thought would easily dominate.
Former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo of Nigeria caught the eye by scoring Al Hilal's two goals from the penalty spot.
Blue Night at Durra 🔵
Watch Al Hilal's double in the derby
Abdullah Al Ghamdi🎙#الهلال_النصر | #SSC pic.twitter.com/8KgHoUdHfu
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) April 18, 2023
English referee Michael Oliver was merciful to Ronaldo when he was content with warning him after a strange intervention on Gustavo Cuellar of Al Hilal in the 57th minute.
In a combined game in the middle of the pitch, Ronaldo jumped on Cuellar and grabbed his neck to knock him down.
Ronaldo appeared to start the victory uprising when he reduced the score to 2-1 in the 76th minute, but the referee ruled out the goal for offside by a very narrow margin.
After returning to purify the VAR. Al Nasr Penal Penalty Canceled❌#الهلال_النصر | #SSC pic.twitter.com/r2FzVGrx6U
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) April 18, 2023
The video referee returned to deal another blow to the hopes of victory when he canceled a penalty kick for the visitors 7 minutes before the end.
The referee makes his decision in the shot of Ronaldo and Cuellar 🟨 #الهلال_النصر | #SSC pic.twitter.com/46umCzdfxT
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) April 18, 2023
Croatian interim coach Dinko Ilicic said: "The defeat is frustrating. The first penalty broke us, it was influential in the game. Al Hilal have been better than us in some periods, my team has shown good glimpses and can pave the way for the coming period."
Ronaldo's🇵🇹 shot misses Al Mayouf❌#الهلال_النصر | #SSC pic.twitter.com/RsdeoDNYmJ
— Saudi Sports Company SSC (@ssc_sports) April 18, 2023
Al-Nasr is 3 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad, who have a game left. The title is decided based on direct confrontations.
The scene of the exit from the match held at Al Hilal Stadium was foreshadowing what awaits Ronaldo in the future.
🎙️| "Messi ... Messi" is how the fans of #الهلال echoed. As soon as the #النصر players enter to warm up 🏃🏻 ♂️🏟️. #الهلال_النصر #دوري_روشن_السعودي pic.twitter.com/k3KzzjPSSH
— Middle East – Sports (@aawsat_spt) April 18, 2023
Watch #الهلال fans chant the name #ميسي and #رونالدو leaves quickly after half-time 🎥🏃
From: @assaf74 #الميدان | #Crescent_Victory #RiyadhDerby | #دوري_روشن_السعودي pic.twitter.com/KORk6i1S7c
— Sports Field (@MidanAlYaum) April 18, 2023
Al Hilal fans raised the shirt of rival Lionel Messi and chanted his name, in what appeared to be a provocation to Ronaldo, who competed with the Pulga for the throne of football for nearly two decades.
After the loss to Al-Hilal, Saudi media reports and Twitter accounts close to Al-Alami claimed that Al-Nasr Club President Mesli Al-Muammar had decided to submit his resignation from the club's presidency.
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨|| Soon, #كورة_النصر:
Mesli Al Muammar decided to resign from the presidency of the #النصر Club. pic.twitter.com/fjhlaifVgq
— Koura | 🦁 #النصر (@9NFCBALL) April 18, 2023
🚨🚨|| #كورة_النصر sources:
The president informed his board of directors of his resignation after the match, it will be submitted to the supporter first and then to the Ministry of Sports, which in turn will decide to accept or reject it, and if accepted, the date of opening the door for elections for the presidency of the club will be determined. pic.twitter.com/U9vgjKITOM
— Koura | 🦁 #النصر (@9NFCBALL) April 18, 2023