Cristiano Ronaldo was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as his Al-Nassr side fell to a 2-1 defeat in a bad-tempered Saudi Super Cup semi-final meeting with Al-Hilal.
With the clock ticking down – and Al-Nassr trailing 2-0 – at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, tempers flared as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner clashed with Al-Hilal defender Ali Al-Bulaihi near the touchline.
Al-Bulaihi had prevented Ronaldo from taking a quick throw-in, with Al-Hilal desperately seeking to halve the deficit, and the veteran forward flew off the handle, first directing an elbow into his opponent’s chest and then his neck.
With an all-out brawl threatening to break out between the two teams, former Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte – Ronaldo’s team-mate at Al-Nassr – tried his best to keep the peace.
Ronaldo was given his marching orders moments later, which is when the 39-year-old Portuguese appeared on the verge of losing his head completely, waving his fist in referee Mohammed Al Hoish’s direction before finally coming to his senses.
The iconic ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United man – widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history – sarcastically applauded as he made his way off the pitch in unsavoury scenes he will no doubt want to forget.
Otavio had earlier looked to have put Al-Nassr in front but was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up and Ronaldo was booked for his protestations – which may have been the source of his frustrations.
Former Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane netted late on after Ronaldo’s sending off but it was too little, too late and Al-Hilal preserved their 2-1 lead to book their place in this year’s final.
In his post-match press conference, Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus suggested Ronaldo’s extraordinary behaviour may have been down the fact his fellow countryman is ‘not accustomed to losing’.
‘Ronaldo is one of the most important players in the world and is a role model for many,’ Jesus told reporters.
‘Cristiano is not accustomed to losing during his career. It is natural for him to lose his temper when he loses, as well as to lose emotional and mental focus in matches in which he loses.’
Al-Hilal will do battle Al-Ittihad for a shot at glory later on this week after Karim Benzema helped his team see off the challenge of Al-Wedha with the fastest ever goal in the Saudi Super Cup in Monday’s other semi-final.
Benzema, Ronaldo’s long-time colleague at Madrid, capitalised on a lacklustre Al-Wedha clearance and opened the scoring after just 55 seconds, bettering Doris Salomo Fuakuputu’s previous record set back in 2013.
Abderrazzak Hamedallah made it two with a strike in the dying moments of the first half at Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahyan Stadium to ensure Al-Ittihad put one foot in the final.
And while Hussain Al-Eisa pulled a goal back for Al-Wedha deep into stoppage time, Benzema and co held on to set up an eagerly anticipated clash with Al-Nassr.
This year’s final will take place at the Al Nahyan Stadium on Thursday evening and the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium hosts the fight for third place later that night.
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