Ronaldo’s Nightmare Continues As Gamba Osaka Sh*ck Al Nassr In AFC Clash

The Riyadh club entered the final at the King Saud University Stadium as heavy favourites, backed by 26,000 fans and aiming to become the first Saudi side to win the competition’s second-tier continental title. However, the match ended in disappointment for the hosts.

The decisive goal came in the 29th minute when Deniz Hummet latched onto a through ball from Issam Jebali and calmly finished from the edge of the box, giving the Japanese side the breakthrough.

After the interval, Al Nassr pushed forward aggressively in search of an equaliser, but Gamba Osaka held firm with a disciplined defensive display. The result means Ronaldo’s wait for a major trophy since joining Saudi football in 2023 continues.

Head coach Jorge Jesus admitted his team struggled early in the match. He said, “We had prepared well but they were very fast and they surprised us. For the first 30 minutes, we were not at our best but after that, we dominated. They only had one opportunity and they scored from it.”

The defeat adds to a difficult week for Ronaldo, who had earlier come close to winning the Saudi Pro League title before a late own goal in a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal denied Al Nassr victory.

Following that setback, Ronaldo posted on X: “The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take! Thank you all for the amazing support tonight!”

The title race now goes to the final day, with Al Nassr two points clear. They will host Damac on Thursday, while Al Hilal face Al Fayha away.

Coach Jorge Jesus has already shifted focus to the league decider, saying: “We didn’t get what we wanted here but there is one more final for us, the Saudi Pro League title, which is very important to us. We have five days to recover and prepare and there is no time for grieving. We have to get going again.