Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus are relieved their side have "a second chance" to win the Saudi Pro League after their title celebrations were put on hold following a 1-1 draw with Al Hilal on Tuesday.
Al Nassr were on the verge of clinching the title with a 1-0 lead in stoppage time but goalkeeper Bento let a throw-in slip through his hands and the ball went into the back of the net to gift Al Hilal an equaliser, much to the shock of the home fans, and to the disbelief of Ronaldo.
"The dream is close. Heads up, we have one more step to take! Thank you all for the amazing support tonight," Ronaldo said in an Instagram post.
Head coach Jorge Jesus who steered Al Hilal to the league title, the Saudi Kings Cup and the Super Cup in 2024 in his second stint at the club, joined Al Nassr last summer.
"It's tough to have lost the possibility to celebrate winning the title today on the last play of the game but there is still one more game [against Darmac], at our stadium and we can be champions," Jorge Jesus said.
"We have a second chance. We still have a game to be happy. If the fans are strong as today, for sure in the last game we will be happy and we will celebrate the title."
Asked about the equalising goal, he added: "It happened following a collision between Bento and [Iñigo] MartÃnez, with no involvement from the Al Hilal players.
"These sorts of situations happen all the time in football."
Al Nassr are five points clear at the top, and have a game in hand.
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They can clinch the title with a win over Damac on May 20, or if Al Hilal fail to beat Neom on May 16.
They can also lift their first major trophy since Ronaldo's arrival in December 2022 when they take on Gamba Osaka i Asian Champions League Two final on May 16.
