Al Hilal thwarted its rival Al Nassr and its Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo with a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer, resulting in a 1–1 draw on Tuesday at the conclusion of the 32nd round of the Saudi Roshn League, denying Al Nassr its 11th title.

Al Nassr was on course to win the Riyadh Derby and clinch the title at the “First Park Stadium” after a goal by French player Mohamed Simakan until the 90+8 minute. However, Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto made an error, accidentally scoring an own goal, preventing his team from securing the championship, while their pursuer still has a pending match before the final round.

The title decision has been postponed to the final round, when Al Nassr will face its guest Damac, who is in 15th place, while Al Hilal will play two matches against its guest Neom and host Al-Fayhaa.

'Al Alamy' leads 'Al Zaeem' by five points and will need a win in its final match to secure the title regardless of Al Hilal's results.

Al Nassr will enter its final match on May 21, after playing the Asian Champions League 2 final against Japan’s Gamba Osaka at home on May 16.

The team hoped to secure the league without risking the last match against Damac, which seeks to remain in the top division, currently occupying the last safe position with a goal difference over Riyadh, which is in 16th place.

Ronaldo could have achieved his first major title with Al Nassr since joining in early 2023, having only won the Arab Cup championship.

The Portuguese star hopes to add the Saudi league title to his trophy-laden cabinet alongside his titles with Europe’s greatest clubs, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, as well as with his national team.

At the “First Park Stadium,” Al Nassr was very close to achieving its 10th win against Al Hilal in their 36 league meetings (having lost 19 matches and drawn 8 times), but the critical mistake by keeper Pinto in the waning seconds may cost them dearly.

Al Hilal quickly sounded a warning through its French striker Karim Benzema, who shot from close range, but Pinto blocked the ball (4).

The former Al Ittihad striker threatened again with a disallowed goal due to an offside by Serbian Sergej Milinković-Savić, who had passed the ball to him (18).

Contrary to the run of play, and with its first real chance, Al Nassr scored the opening goal through Frenchman Mohamed Simakan with a first-time shot following a corner into the area that the defense failed to clear (38).

Ronaldo attempted to add a second with a powerful shot from outside the area, which was saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (40).

Frenchman Kingsley Coman squandered a golden opportunity for Al Nassr when he received an errant pass from Milinković-Savić and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Bounou, but struck the left post (45+1).

In the second half, Al Nassr’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus and Al Hilal’s Italian coach Simone Inzaghi made several changes, but neither team produced significant attacking play, particularly Al Hilal, who needed a goal to keep its hopes alive.

Portuguese João Félix’s close-range shot, which was blocked by Bounou (79), could have been the most dangerous chance of the second half.

Ronaldo left the field in the 83rd minute to a standing ovation from the crowd.

Milinković-Savić almost scored an equalizer with a close-range shot, but Pinto diverted it for a corner (85), before his Brazilian teammate Malcom left the field due to injury (86).

In the eighth minute of stoppage time, when Al Nassr appeared set for victory, substitute Ali Lajami sent a long throw into the penalty area. As Pinto reached to collect it, he mishandled the ball, and it went into the goal.