Al-Nassr's Bento Faces Goalkeeping Criticism After Fekir's Strike
Al‑Nassr walked away with three points against Abha. Bento did not walk away from the spotlight.
In a tense Roshn League clash on Wednesday night, “Al‑Alami” edged a 2-1 win in the sixth round, but the story that lingered was their Brazilian goalkeeper’s latest mistake – a slip that has dragged his suitability for the No.1 shirt back into the dock.
Fekir strike exposes a fragile moment
Al‑Nassr were ahead and, for long spells, in control. The plan was simple: manage the game, see it out, keep the title push moving without drama.
Then came the 75th minute.
Nabil Fekir stood over a direct free kick, a position he has turned into a personal stage throughout his career. His strike was clever rather than ferocious, deceptive rather than spectacular. It did not need to be either. Bento misread it, failed to deal with the flight, and the ball slid into the net in a way that stunned those watching.
Abha celebrated more than just a consolation. Fekir’s goal carried a statistic that underlined its rarity: it was Abha’s first direct free‑kick goal in the Pro League since Saad Baqir scored against Al‑Shabab in October 2023. For them, it was a landmark. For Al‑Nassr, it was another red flag.
From isolated error to running theme
Inside the club and among the fanbase, the concern is no longer about one misjudged free kick. It is about a pattern.
Since arriving in the summer of 2024, Bento has had too many of these moments for comfort. Each one chips away at the confidence that should surround the goalkeeper of a team chasing every domestic and continental prize available. Each one revives the same question: is he the right man to stand behind a side built to dominate?
The reaction told its own story. On “X”, criticism spiked within minutes of Fekir’s strike hitting the net. A section of supporters pinned the blame squarely on Bento and went further, calling for him to be taken out of the firing line altogether. Their demand was clear: rest the Brazilian, restore Nawaf Al‑Aqidi as the starting goalkeeper.
Al‑Aqidi waiting in the wings
Those calls are not noise from the fringes. They have a foundation.
Al‑Aqidi has already convinced Australian coach Ange Postecoglou in recent weeks. The Saudi international has started multiple matches even with Bento available, proof that the competition for the gloves is real and active, not a theoretical battle on paper.
For a club of Al‑Nassr’s stature, that matters. They are expected to win now and to be ready when the season hardens, when knockout ties, title deciders and high‑pressure nights leave no margin for error. In that context, every goalkeeping mistake is magnified.
This is why Wednesday’s incident feels heavier than a routine league‑game lapse. The issue has shifted from the scoreboard to something more fundamental: long‑term trust in the man between the posts.
A position under the harshest light
Goalkeeping at a club with Al‑Nassr’s ambitions is unforgiving. Strikers can miss chances and be rescued by the next attack. Midfielders can misplace passes and recover. A goalkeeper’s mistake, especially in a tight game, sits alone in the memory.
Al‑Nassr keep winning, and that cushions the blow for now. But repeated individual errors in such a sensitive position risk becoming a structural weakness once “Al‑Alami” step into the tougher stages of the competition, where one moment can define an entire campaign.
That is the crossroads Bento now faces.
The Brazilian still holds the most powerful right of reply available to any player: performances. He can steady himself, shut out the noise and rebuild faith with a run of assured displays. The opportunity is there.
So is the pressure. Fekir’s free kick did more than halve the deficit on the night. It tightened the scrutiny, sharpened the debate, and reminded everyone at Al‑Nassr that with a domestic alternative like Al‑Aqidi ready and waiting, the margin for another misstep in goal is shrinking fast.
