Cristiano Ronaldo's pursuit of domestic honours in Saudi Arabia suffered another setback as Al-Nassr fell to Al-Ahli in a penalty shootout following a thrilling 2-2 stalemate in Saturday's Saudi Super Cup final.
The Portuguese superstar, who has now endured three consecutive domestic final defeats since joining the Saudi club, watched his side surrender the lead twice before succumbing 5-3 in the shootout.
Despite reaching a personal milestone during the match, the 40-year-old forward's visible disappointment highlighted his mounting frustration at Al-Nassr's inability to secure major silverware, extending his trophy drought to over two years.
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Cristiano Ronaldo was furious after losing the Super Cup
|REUTERS
Jorge Jesus's side dominated the opening exchanges, creating numerous opportunities but struggling with their finishing.
Wesley's effort narrowly missed the target after cutting inside from the byline, whilst Felix forced a save from Edouard Mendy.
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Ronaldo attempted an acrobatic overhead kick that went straight to the goalkeeper before finally breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 41st minute, calmly placing the ball down the middle after Ali Majrashi handled in the area.
Their advantage proved short-lived as Franck Kessie restored parity with a superb curling effort from outside the penalty area just before the interval.
The second half appeared to swing decisively Al-Nassr's way when Marcelo Brozovic capitalised on Kessie's error near the penalty area, curling home with eight minutes remaining.
Yet Roger Ibanez had other ideas, rising highest to power in a corner kick and force penalties with his 89th-minute header.
During the shootout, Mendy emerged as Al-Ahli's hero, denying Abdullah Al-Khaibari's effort to secure victory after both sides had converted their opening attempts.
Footage later emerged showing Ronaldo muttering to himself in clear frustration, with the video quickly spreading across social media platforms as supporters witnessed his anguish at another near-miss.
The evening marked a bittersweet personal achievement for Ronaldo, who netted his 100th goal for Al-Nassr from the penalty spot.
This feat made him the first footballer to score a century of goals for four different clubs and his country - Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr and Portugal.
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Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the Super Cup but it was not enough as Al-Nassr went on to lose on penalties
|REUTERS
However, the historic milestone provided scant consolation as his wait for domestic silverware stretches on.
The former Real Madrid star has claimed just one trophy since arriving in Saudi Arabia - the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023.
Al-Nassr must now refocus on their Saudi Pro League campaign, with a fixture against Al-Taawoun scheduled for 29 August.
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