Al Nassr’s season has taken another difficult turn, with the Saudi Pro League club, led by star players Sadio Mané and Cristiano Ronaldo, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Al Taawoun in the Saudi Cup round of 16. Despite bringing on Mané to bolster the attack in the second half, Al Nassr’s efforts fell short, ultimately resulting in a surprise early exit from the competition.
The match remained tense and closely contested, with both sides struggling to create clear scoring opportunities.
However, Al Taawoun managed to break the deadlock in the 71st minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to score the only goal of the game.
Al Nassr found themselves unable to respond, despite a late surge that saw them pushing for an equalizer.
Sadio Mané, the Senegalese international, began the game on the bench, only entering the fray in the second half.
Although he added energy to the attack with several promising runs, he was unable to find the breakthrough Al Nassr desperately needed.
In the dying minutes, Al Nassr’s best chance to rescue the game arrived when they were awarded a penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo, the team’s captain, stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort missed the mark, leaving the team without a lifeline.
Ronaldo’s missed penalty capped off a frustrating night for Al Nassr, sealing their elimination from the Saudi Cup.
The loss compounds an already challenging start to the season for Al Nassr, who have faced struggles in league play as well.
With early ambitions dashed in the cup, the team and its star-studded lineup will now focus on regaining momentum in the league, where they continue to fight for a stronger position.
For Al Nassr and manager Luís Castro, the unexpected cup exit underscores the challenges facing the club this season.
Sadio Mané and Ronaldo, who were brought in to elevate the team, now face the task of turning around the season’s fortunes.