Disaster for Cristiano Ronaldo, with Ovidiu Hațegan and Radu Petrescu in the VAR booth » Incident with Joao Felix in the foreground!
Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published on Saturday, 03 January 2026, 08:40 / Updated on Saturday, 03 January 2026 08:41
It was a night to quickly forget for (still) leaders Al Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo. Although facing a team, Al Ahli, with many absences, the Portuguese's team succumbed 3-2 at the end of a game with many mistakes and a brawl at the end of which his compatriot, Joao Felix, came out seriously “wrinkled”.
Unforgivable mistakes by the goalkeepers
After Toney quickly opened the scoring for the hosts, taking advantage of the poor placement of Al Nassr's defenders (min. 6), the Englishman made it “double” with a shot that caught the opposing goalkeeper, Nawaf Alaqidi, closing his eyes!
Although it was obvious that Al Nassr was having a disastrous day, an unexpected ally appeared to light their way. Inexplicably, the opposing goalkeeper, Abdulrahman, let a cross from Al Amri slip through his legs and thus brought the visitors back into the game (min. 30).
Cristiano Ronaldo, completely isolated
The same Al Amri equalized at two (min. 43), and Toney hit the bar, thus missing the hat-trick, and took the goalkeeper Al Aqidi out of the game with an accidental knee to the head. Al Nassr's goalkeeper could not continue and was replaced at half-time.
The final result was established by Demiral, in the 54th minute: 3-2. Cristiano Ronaldo? Modest. With one exception, a wasted opportunity in the 60th minute, when he tangled with the ball, totally isolated.
Ovidiu Hațegan and Radu Petrescu, requested at the end
In the end, the Romanian referees Ovidiu Hațegan and Radu Petrescu helped the “central” Irfan Peljto to make the right decisions in the conflict that broke out on the field. The main protagonists, Joao Felix and Al Ahli's captain, Majrashi.
The latter slapped the Portuguese midfielder and was sent off. It wasn't going to be the last “red” of the game, because in the 90+8th minute, Nawaf Bu Washl (Al Nassr) fouled the last defender and was also sent to the booth before the final whistle.
