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Al Hilal needed the help of Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo to preserve their unbeaten run in the Saudi Pro League against rivals Al Nassr.
Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane gifted Al Hilal a stoppage-time penalty as the Saudi Pro League champions rescued a 1-1 draw at rivals Al Nassr, who also had Cristiano Ronaldo on, to preserve their remarkable unbeaten run.
The Senegalese forward carelessly elbowed an opponent in the box deep into injury time, allowing Aleksandar Mitrovic to convert from the spot and cancel out Otavio's early opener for the hosts on Friday night.
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11:41 - 17.05.2024
Cristiano Ronaldo: Sadio Mane's Al Nassr teammate reveals when he will retire ahead EURO 2024
Sadio Mane's club mate at Al Nassr Cristiano Ronaldo has explained why retirement is not part of his immediate plans.
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05:50 - 15.05.2024
Sadio Mane: Former Saint set to abandon Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr after losing league title to Al Hilal
Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr could face more heartbreak in Saudi Arabia after Al Hilal with Sadio Mane linked with an exit from the club.
Sadio Mane, Ronaldo frustrated with Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo had set up Otavio to fire Al Nassr ahead inside the opening minute in an action-packed Riyadh derby at the King Fahd Stadium.
However, despite dominating much of the play, especially in the first half, the home side were made to rue a host of missed chances as Ronaldo squandered three gilt-edged chances, including two one-on-one opportunities.
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Mitrovic also inexplicably headed wide from point-blank range in the 79th minute as Al Nassr looked certain to claim a first victory over their city rivals in the last three attempts.
But just as the home fans were preparing to celebrate three points, Mane's needless intervention allowed the prolific Mitrovic to coolly dispatch his penalty after an agonizing VAR review.
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The last-gasp strike stretched Al Hilal's astonishing unbeaten streak in the Saudi Pro League to 32 matches, though their title triumph had long since been sealed.
For Al Nassr, it marked more derby day frustration despite a dominant display, as they missed the chance to reduce the gap between them and their bitter rivals.
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Ronaldo and Mane had been the pre-match headliners but it was Serbian strikers Mitrovic and Otavio who stole the show with their crucial goals at either end of a pulsating 90 minutes.
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