Cristiano Ronaldo denied Saudi Pro League title after bizarre goalkeeper own goal

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.His Al Nassr team were 12 seconds away from winning the Saudi Pro League title, leading 1-0 against their closest rivals Al Hilal in Riyadh, when the unthinkable happened.Al Hilal, requiring a point to keep their hopes alive, delivered a long throw towards the Al Nassr penalty area. It overshot the group of Al Hilal attackers and the ball looked to be sailing calmly towards goalkeeper Bento.But a mix up in communication proved fatal. As Bento, a Brazil international, jumped to claim the delivery, his defender Inigo Martinez backtracked and tried to head the ball clear.Bento’s attempts to catch the ball were impeded and sent the ball flying into his own net with Abdulelah Al-Amri unable to clear it off the line. The camera inevitably cut to Ronaldo, who had been substituted in the 83rd minute. He first sat still in numb disbelief before breaking into the most rueful of smiles.Advertisement