Cristiano Ronaldo urges Al-Nassr to ‘learn and move forward’ after disappointing cup defeat to Al-Ittihad
Ronaldo offered words of encouragement after their cup exit
Cristiano Ronaldo has urged his Al-Nassr team-mates to “learn and move forward together” after their disappointing exit from the King’s Cup last night.
Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League leaders, were beaten 2-1 in the last 16 by Al-Ittihad. It was a determined display from Sergio Conceicao’s men who put aside their inconsistent league form to register an impressive victory.
Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid strike partner Karim Benzema opened the scoring for the visitors before the Portuguese star set up Angelo to equalise, but Houssam Aouar scored what proved to be the winner just before half-time.
Ronaldo has yet to win a major trophy with Al-Nassr since moving to the Middle East from Manchester United in 2023 and will now have to focus his efforts elsewhere.
In a post on X, he wrote: “We stand tall, learn, and move forward together.”
Ronaldo and Coman waste chances to equalise
Al-Nassr will be frustrated at being knocked out after playing against 10 men for the bulk of the second half after Al-Ittihad right-back Ahmed Al Julaydan was shown a straight red after a dangerous jump into Aiman Yahya when the pair went up for a 50-50.
Ronaldo had the best chance for an equaliser but, having been put clean through, opted for a clever, dinked finish which ended up in a routine save for Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Predrag Rajković. Replays suggested he might have been offside.
Al-Nassr continued to push for an equaliser but those hopes were shattered in added time when Kingsley Coman was once again presented with a chance to find the net, only for the former Bayern Munich star to shoot well over the bar.