Mitrovic Doubles up as Al-Hilal Down Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Riyadh Derby

Al-Nassr's Saudi goalkeeper #44 Nawaf al-Aqidi (R) catches the ball above Hilal's Serbian forward #09 Aleksandar Mitrovic (C) during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on December 1, 2023. (AFP)
Al-Nassr's Saudi goalkeeper #44 Nawaf al-Aqidi (R) catches the ball above Hilal's Serbian forward #09 Aleksandar Mitrovic (C) during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on December 1, 2023. (AFP)
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Mitrovic Doubles up as Al-Hilal Down Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Riyadh Derby

Al-Nassr's Saudi goalkeeper #44 Nawaf al-Aqidi (R) catches the ball above Hilal's Serbian forward #09 Aleksandar Mitrovic (C) during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on December 1, 2023. (AFP)
Al-Nassr's Saudi goalkeeper #44 Nawaf al-Aqidi (R) catches the ball above Hilal's Serbian forward #09 Aleksandar Mitrovic (C) during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on December 1, 2023. (AFP)

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr lost 3-0 to table-toppers Al-Hilal in the Riyadh derby at the King Fahd International Stadium on Friday to fall further behind their bitter rivals at the top the Saudi Pro League standings.

The Portuguese striker left the field with rival fans taunting the five-times Ballon D'Or winner by chanting the name of his great rival and Argentinian World Cup winner, Lionel Messi at the end of the game.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put the league leaders in front before Aleksandar Mitrovic's late double sealed a win that takes unbeaten Al-Hilal seven points clear of Al-Nassr at the summit 15 games into the season.

After a goalless first half, Saud Abdulhamid delivered a 64th-minute cross from the right for former Lazio midfielder Milinkovic-Savic to head in the opener, beating Nawaf Al-Aqidi low and to his right.

Mitrovic then headed in the second with a minute remaining when he nodded in Salem Al Dawsari's corner.

Three minutes later, the Serbian forward completed the scoring by cutting inside Aymeric Laporte to strike through Al-Aqidi's legs and net his 13th of the season to pull to within two goals of Ronaldo on the top scorers' chart.

The game ended on a sour note for Al-Hilal as defender Ali Al-Bulayhi was sent off in injury time by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan, as Jorge Jesus' side notched up their 13th win in 15 league games.



Israel Vázquez, the 3-time World Boxing Champion from Mexico, Dies at 46

FILE PHOTO: WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez celebrates after defeating Jhonny Gonzalez, both of Mexico City, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada September 16, 2006. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez celebrates after defeating Jhonny Gonzalez, both of Mexico City, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada September 16, 2006. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo
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Israel Vázquez, the 3-time World Boxing Champion from Mexico, Dies at 46

FILE PHOTO: WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez celebrates after defeating Jhonny Gonzalez, both of Mexico City, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada September 16, 2006. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez celebrates after defeating Jhonny Gonzalez, both of Mexico City, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada September 16, 2006. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo

Israel Vázquez, the Mexican fighter who won three bantamweight world titles, has died at 46.
World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman announced the death on Tuesday.
The boxer nicknamed “El Magnifico” revealed on Nov. 10 he had sarcoma, a cancer, The Associated Press reported.
“Israel is finally resting in peace. May God provide his family with strength we extend all the support to his wife Laura, his kids, family and friends during this difficult time,” Sulaiman said on X. “Thanks champion for leaving a special footprint. You will always be 'El Magnifico.'"
Vázquez debuted in 1995 and will be most remembered for his four fights against countryman Rafael Márquez from 2007-10. They split the series, and the 2007 and 2008 duels received fight of the year awards.
After winning in 2008, Vázquez suffered a detached retina and eventually lost his right eye after his retirement. He stopped fighting in May 2010 after the fourth fight against Marquez, who won by a knockout.
Vázquez won the vacant IBF super bantmanweight title in 2004 against Jose Luis Valbuena and successfully defended it twice. Then he took the WBC belt from titleholder Oscar Larios with a third-round stoppage in 2005.
He held the WBC belt until the first meeting with Márquez, against whom he retired in the seventh round after struggling to breathe through a broken nose. In a rematch five months later, Vázquez regained the title despite cuts over both eyes, by knocking out Márquez in the sixth round.
Vázquez won their third bout in early 2008 by a split decision after being knocked down himself. But the eye injury meant he didn't fight for the rest of the year and was stripped of the WBC title.
After three surgeries, he was cleared to fight and fought Márquez a fourth time in Los Angeles and suffered a third-round knockout.
Vázquez finished with a record of 44-5, with 32 knockouts.