Al-Nassr suffered a heartbreaking elimination from the King’s Cup on 29 October 2024, falling 1–0 to Al-Taawoun at Al-Awwal Park after Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty deep into stoppage time, Softfootball reports.
Al-Nassr controlled the match from the opening whistle, dominating possession at 64% and producing 15 total shots, but struggled to break down a disciplined Al-Taawoun defense. Despite Ronaldo, Talisca, Ângelo Gabriel, and Otávio leading the attack, clear chances were limited, and the visitors remained compact and organized.
The breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Waleed Al-Ahmed capitalized on a defensive lapse, smashing the ball past Bento to give Al-Taawoun a crucial 1–0 lead. The goal shifted momentum as Al-Nassr pressed relentlessly for an equalizer.
The match reached peak drama in stoppage time after VAR awarded Al-Nassr a penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up in the 96th minute, but his effort missed, stunning the home crowd and sealing Al-Nassr’s exit from the competition. Al-Taawoun held firm despite late yellow cards to maintain the narrow advantage until the final whistle.
For Al-Nassr, the defeat marks a major setback in their domestic cup ambitions, especially given their control of the match and the late missed opportunity. Al-Taawoun’s resilience and efficiency, however, earned them a place in the next round, while Al-Nassr are left to regroup ahead of their league and continental commitments.
