Cristiano Ronaldo endured another week of heartbreak, as his Saudi side Al Nassr was stunned 1-0 at home by Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final on Saturday.
The Japanese club held off a second-half onslaught from the Saudi side to extend Ronaldo’s wait for his first piece of major silverware since signing a lucrative deal to join Al Nassr in 2023.
It was the second-tier Asian continental crown, equivalent to the UEFA Europa League. Al Nassr were hot favourites to become the first Saudi Arabian side to win AFC Champions League Two in front of 26,000 fans at the King Saud University Stadium.
Gamba’s only goal of the game came unexpectedly when forward Deniz Hummet seized Issam Jebali’s through ball and buried the finish from the edge of the box after 29 minutes.
“We prepared well, but they were very fast, and they surprised us,” said Al Nassr’s Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus.
We weren’t at our best in the first 30 minutes, but after that we were absolutely dominant. They had one chance, and they took it.”
Earlier in the week, Cristiano Ronaldo had to wait longer for his first Saudi Pro League title as Al Nassr goalkeeper Bento scored a bizarre own goal in injury time to give second-placed Al Hilal a 1-1 draw.
A win would have been a first Saudi domestic title for the Portuguese great, who suffered more agony in Riyadh four days later.
The 41-year-old wrote on X on Wednesday after his side was seconds away from league title glory against Al Hilal: “The dream is close.”
Heads up, we have one more step to go! Thanks, everyone, for great support tonight!”
Al Nassr are two points clear of Al Hilal with one game remaining and can clinch the title at home to Damac on Thursday.
The same night is Al Hilal’s final game away to Al Fayha.
“We don’t get what we want here, but we have one more final to play, the Saudi Pro League title, that is very important for us,” said Jesus.
“We have five days to recover and prepare – no time for grieving. We have to get moving again.
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