Bento sees Al-Nassr comeback marred by first career red card

Bento Matheus was sent off for the first time in his professional career as Al-Nassr came from two goals down to beat Al-Ettifaq 3-2 in a dramatic Saudi Pro League encounter on Tuesday.

The Brazilian goalkeeper was dismissed in the 12th minute after challenging Al-Ettifaq forward Moussa Dembele. His early departure left Al-Nassr with 10 players for almost the entire match and marked an unprecedented moment in his career.

According to data from Transfermarkt, Bento had never previously received a red card in 164 appearances for Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense or in his seven matches for Brazil.

He had also avoided dismissal in each of his 86 appearances for Al-Nassr since joining the club in the summer of 2024.

Opta said Bento’s sending-off was the second-quickest dismissal of a goalkeeper in the Saudi Pro League since the 2009-10 season. The only faster example was Al-Nassr goalkeeper Khaled Rady, who was sent off in the fifth minute of a match against Al-Shabab on 25 December 2009.

The incident moved Bento and Al-Nassr into the disciplinary headlines during the third round of the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season.

Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah reported that Al-Nassr had become the fourth club to have a player sent off in the current campaign, joining Al-Riyadh, Al-Ittihad and Neom.

Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad lead the list with two red cards each, while Al-Nassr and Neom have each had one player dismissed.

Neom midfielder Alaa Al-Haji was sent off earlier in the campaign, while Al-Ittihad have seen Portugal international Danilo Pereira and Senegalese player Dion Lopy dismissed. Al-Riyadh’s red cards have gone to Ivory Coast midfielder Abdoulaye Keita and Uruguay defender Rodrigo Abascal.

All of those dismissals came through direct red cards except Lopy’s. The Al-Ittihad player was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

Despite Bento’s dismissal and the numerical disadvantage, Al-Nassr still secured all three points. Al-Ettifaq took advantage of having an extra player and scored twice, putting the home side under severe pressure.

Al-Nassr, however, produced a spirited response and overturned the deficit to claim a 3-2 victory. The result ensured that Bento’s first sending-off did not prevent his side from taking maximum points, although his early exit placed Al-Nassr on the Saudi Pro League’s red-card list and set the tone for a remarkable comeback.