HONG KONG (BN24) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait for his first trophy with Al-Nassr continued on Saturday as the Riyadh giants were defeated 5-3 in a penalty shootout by Al-Ahli in the Saudi Super Cup final. The match, which was part of Saudi Arabia’s global sporting initiative, ended 2-2 after regulation time before Al-Ahli held their nerve in the shootout to lift the trophy.
Ronaldo had given Al-Nassr the lead in the 40th minute, calmly converting a penalty after Al-Ahli’s Ali Majrashi was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area. The Portuguese forward’s cool finish sent the packed stadium into raptures and appeared to set him on course for a long-awaited piece of silverware in Saudi football.
However, Al-Ahli, featuring an array of international talent, responded swiftly. Franck Kessié, the former Barcelona midfielder, capitalized on poor defending from Al-Nassr to score a crisp equalizer, shifting the momentum in favor of the Jeddah side.
The second half was even more dramatic. Marcelo Brozović put Al-Nassr back in front with a well-taken strike, only for Al-Ahli’s Ibanez to score in the dying moments of the match, sending the contest to penalties.
In the shootout, Al-Ahli showed more composure, converting all their spot-kicks. Al-Nassr, on the other hand, faltered, with missed penalties from Ronaldo, Brozović, and Felix costing them the match. The final penalty from Al-Ahli secured their victory, leaving Ronaldo and his teammates with yet another final defeat.
This was Al-Nassr’s sixth appearance in the Saudi Super Cup final, the most by any club in the competition, while it was only Al-Ahli’s second. The defeat marked Ronaldo’s third loss in a final since joining the club in 2023. He had previously fallen short in the King’s Cup and the 2023 Saudi Super Cup.
For a player with one of the most decorated careers in football, the wait for silverware in Saudi Arabia has been frustratingly elusive. His only title with the club remains the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, a competition not officially recognized by FIFA.
The loss in Hong Kong is another painful reminder for Ronaldo and Al-Nassr that their quest for domestic dominance is far from complete. Despite the star power in their ranks, the club’s journey toward silverware remains unfinished.
Credit: Sky Sport
