May 28, 2025 5:26 pm
Full News

Ronaldo’s penalty miss costs Al-Nassr as Cup hopes go up in smoke.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid for silverware hit a snag on Tuesday as Al-Nassr were eliminated from the King’s Cup, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Al-Taawoun.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner missed a stoppage-time penalty that could have salvaged the match, marking a frustrating moment in his nearly two-year tenure with the club without a major trophy.

Al-Taawoun took the lead with a header from Waleed Al-Ahmad in the 70th minute.

With just seconds left in the match, Al-Ahmad was called for a foul in the area, setting the stage for Ronaldo’s penalty.

However, CR7 shot over the bar, leaving the home crowd of 14,519 in disbelief.

This miss marked an unusual misstep for Ronaldo, who had previously converted all 18 penalties for Al-Nassr.

The defeat also marked the first loss for new head coach Stefano Pioli, who succeeded Luis Castro in September.

“Technically, we performed well, but we couldn’t win,” Pioli said. “We feel disappointed to be out of the cup, but we

still have two trophies to go for, and we will give our best in them.”

Despite this setback, Al-Nassr remain in contention for two more trophies this season.

However, they trail league leaders Al-Hilal by six points after eight matches in the Saudi Pro League and have managed only seven points from three games in the Asian Champions League group stage.

After the match, Ronaldo reflected on the defeat via social media, posting on X and Instagram, “Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.”

While he has struggled with penalties in recent months, including a crucial miss in Portugal’s Euro 2024 clash with Slovenia, he successfully converted two penalties in shootouts during the summer.

Ronaldo remains undeterred by his recent misfortunes.

“I know there are people who are afraid of taking penalties and shootouts, but that’s not Cristiano

Ronaldo,” he said on his YouTube channel. “I will never be afraid. Even if I miss a penalty, I will take the second, and if I miss the second, I will take the third. I will never be afraid.”

With a career total of 199 penalties taken and 168 scored, Ronaldo is well-acquainted with the pressures of the spot-kick.

Al-Nassr must now regroup quickly for their crucial Saudi Pro League clash against Al-Hilal, who sit atop the league with a perfect win record after eight games and recently welcomed back Neymar after a yearlong absence.

Related News
Niels Arestrup, ‘A Prophet’ and ‘War Horse’ Actor, Dies at 75
James to Perform at Historic Concert in the United States
Grief and Anger in Magdeburg After Christmas Market Tragedy
Trump and Rubio Restructure National Security Council, Targeting “Deep State”
Europe Shifts Focus on Ukraine Security Amid Political and Logistical Challenges
Bail of Chinmoy Das Suspended in Sedition Case
Related Posts
Trump Promised ‘No Tax on Social Security’—But the GOP Tax Bill Falls Short
Continued Downtrend in Bangladesh Stock Market Sparks Investor Anxiety
Germany’s Chancellor Promises to Support Ukraine in Producing Long-Range Missiles
Trump’s 5-Step Strategy to Keep GOP Control of the House in 2026
Jakarta Emerges as France’s Leading Arms Client in Southeast Asians
Trump’s Fury with Putin Grows Amid Republican Rift Over Ukraine War
More News

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace in Gaza and Ukraine in First Sunday Blessing

VATICAN CITY – In his first Sunday blessing as pope, Pope Leo XIV issued a passionate plea for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid for suffering civilians. Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica following the Regina Caeli prayer, Pope Leo said, “I am deeply pained […]

Bangladesh Formally Requests Extradition of Sheikh Hasina from India

DHAKA – The Bangladesh government has formally requested the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, according to Touhid Hossain, the interim government’s advisor on foreign affairs. Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Touhid Hossain stated: “We have clearly informed India. We have sent a diplomatic note verbale requesting her […]

Trump Campaign Revokes Election Night Credentials for Journalists After Critical Coverage

Journalists from several media outlets have been barred from former President Donald Trump’s election night event in West Palm Beach, Florida, following critical reports on his campaign. Reporters from Politico, Axios, Puck, Voice of America, and Mother Jones were among those denied access, with some outlets initially granted credentials only to have them revoked. Politico’s […]

Israel Proposes New Ceasefire Deal for Gaza

Israel has proposed a new ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip through two mediating countries, Egypt and Qatar. The proposal has already been delivered to Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, according to a report by Egypt’s state-run TV channel Al Qahera News. Hamas spokesperson Abu Zuhri confirmed that the group has received the proposal […]

Russia Signs Strategic Partnership Treaty with Iran Amid Western Sanctions

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in Moscow. This agreement follows similar pacts with China and North Korea, as Russia seeks to strengthen its ties with countries that are adversaries of the United States. Key points of the agreement include: The treaty aims to […]

CNN Announces Layoffs and $70M Digital Investment in Strategic Overhaul

CNN has announced that it will lay off approximately 6% of its workforce, affecting about 200 employees, as part of a major strategic shift towards digital platforms. This decision comes as the network seeks to adapt to the evolving ways audiences consume news, with CEO Mark Thompson emphasizing the move as essential for CNN’s survival […]

If genocide is used loosely, will it lose its strength?

Dr. A K Abdul Momen Nowadays the word “genocide” is being used very loosely and at times, in a way that reflects total ignorance of the term “genocide”. As per the UN Resolution 96 on December 11, 1946 , and subsequently the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide […]

Bilawal Attends Trump’s Breakfast Event

Bilawal Attends Trump’s Breakfast EventPakistan’s former foreign minister and chairman of the country’s second-largest party, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, attended the ‘National Prayer Ceremony’—a breakfast event hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump in honor of prominent political, diplomatic, business, and cultural figures from around the world. The event began at 7 […]

Xi Jinping Asserts Unstoppable Reunification with Taiwan in New Year’s Speech

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping declared on December 31, 2024, that no force could halt China’s “reunification” with Taiwan, issuing a stern warning to pro-independence forces both within and outside the island of 23 million people. Throughout 2024, Beijing increased military pressure near Taiwan, with frequent deployments of warships and planes into the surrounding […]

Trump Warns BRICS Nations Against Replacing U.S. Dollar, Threatens 100% Tariffs

WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to BRICS member countries, threatening 100% tariffs if they attempt to replace the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. This warning, posted on Truth Social, echoes a similar statement he made shortly after winning the November presidential elections. “We are going to […]