Al-Nassr title hopes dented by injury-time own goal against Al Hilal
A bizarre error by goalkeeper Bento denies Al-Nassr a 1-0 victory over second-placed Al Hilal, postponing the club’s first league championship in seven years.
Al-Nassr’s pursuit of their first Saudi Pro League title in seven years was halted by an injury-time own goal from goalkeeper Bento during a high-stakes match against rivals Al Hilal. The error denied the Riyadh-based club a 1-0 victory, preventing them from securing the championship at that stage of the season.
The incident occurred in the final moments of the match on Tuesday, when Bento fumbled an overhead save, sending the ball into his own net. The result meant Al-Nassr, who were leading 1-0, were unable to defeat the second-placed side and seal their 11th league title.
Al-Nassr currently top the league table with 83 points from 33 games, holding a five-point advantage over Al Hilal, who have played one fewer match. Despite the setback, the club remains the favourite to win the league in their final match against 15th-place Damac on May 21, barring a shock result.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who captains Al-Nassr, expressed frustration on the bench following the equaliser. The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar, who joined the club in January 2023 following the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, has not won a domestic title with the side since his arrival.
Home fans had been given free team shirts, creating a sea of yellow in the stands in anticipation of a title win. Al-Nassr’s last league title was won in 2019, while Al Hilal won the league in 2024.
Following the match, Ronaldo posted on social media, stating, “The dream is close,” to his 770 million-plus followers. The final outcome of the league title race remains uncertain until the conclusion of Al-Nassr’s final fixture.
