appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Paul McNamara

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr trophy drought will enter a third year after Al-Ahli twice recovered from falling behind to draw 2-2, then beat the Portuguese’s side 5-3 on penalties in Saturday’s Saudi Super Cup final.
A shoot-out saw Ronaldo convert his kick, having earlier netted his team’s opening goal of the match, also from the penalty spot.
But Edouard Mendy saved Al-Nassr’s fourth kick, from Abdullah Al-Khaibari, before Wenderson Galeno completed a perfect set of Al-Ahli penalties to win the club’s first Super Cup since 2016.
It had looked like Ronaldo was on his way to a 37th career trophy when he coolly clipped past Mendy after 41 minutes, but his side were pegged back when Franck Kessie stroked home one of the more unpopular goals scored in Hong Kong seconds before half-time.
Kessie went from hero to villain when Marcelo Brozovic robbed the dawdling Ivorian then crashed his 82nd-minute finish beyond Al-Ahli keeper Mendy to put Al-Nassr back in front.

With one minute remaining, however, Mendy’s opposite number, Bento, flapped hopelessly at a Riyad Mahrez corner to allow Roger Ibanez to head into an empty net for 2-2.
Ronaldo mania engulfed Hong Kong Stadium for the second time in five days, and when he sent a 22nd-minute overhead kick at Mendy the cheers were louder than those that would greet most goals.
Until the man everyone came to see struck from 12 yards, there had been little to entertain the reported 30,240 supporters. They began a Mexican wave during a water break on the half-hour, a sure sign of restlessness.
After 12 minutes, Ivan Toney had reignited his feud with Mohamed Simakan, the defender he accused on the eve of the match of “not being as good as he thinks he is”, and who was sent off for elbowing the England striker last season.
In this instance, Toney was booked after he left Simakan writhing on the ground and clutching his face following an aerial collision.
Joao Felix twice capitalised on weak defending, firstly from Galeno, then from Ibanez, to create opportunities that Mendy saved. Between times, Wesley, who replaced the suspended Sadio Mane, was sent streaking clear on the left. The Brazilian ignored Kingsley Coman in the middle to aim narrowly past the far post.


When Wesley’s chipped delivery struck nearest defender Ali Majrashi, the referee Mohammed Al-Hoish, who sent off Ronaldo in a 2023 Super Cup semi-final, unhesitatingly pointed to the spot.
Cries of “Ronaldo, Ronaldo” rolled around the stadium, as he waited around three minutes for Al-Ahli’s protests to die down. He struck down the middle, while Mendy took off to his left.
Toney was offside when he headed home a delivery from Enzo Millot, as Al-Ahli belatedly came to life. And the current Asian champions drew level deep into first-half stoppage time when Kessie beautifully curled into the bottom right corner, adding to the two goals he scored in the semi-final demolition of Al-Qadsiah.
Ronaldo forced Mendy to save to his right soon after the restart. Firas Al-Buraikan sidefooted against the inside of a post after 71 minutes, as the second half came to the boil.
Brozovic thought he had won it, only for Ibanez’s leveller to set the stage for Mendy and Galeno to emerge as the heroes of the night.
Ronaldo’s two-year wait to add to his single piece of silverware with Al-Nassr, the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, will go on.


Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr begin AFC Champions League bid as Saudi clubs chase 3rd straight title

All about Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, as dad shares photos of the duo flexing their abs

AFC Champions League Elite final: Japanese team with school coach to cap remarkable journey

Pressure builds on Saudi champs Al-Ittihad as hunt for Asian Champions League spots resumes

Saudi Pro League

Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong: Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr lose final on penalties

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores the first goal from the penalty spot at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Elson Li

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his opener with teammates. Photo: Elson Li

Ivan Toney blasts ‘crazy treatment’ of Al-Ahli for Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong

Ivan Toney at the Saudi Super Cup final press conference, where he took aim at tournament organisers. Photo: May Tse

Toney (right) and Matthias Jaissle (second left) are both confident Al-Ahli will beat Al-Nassr. Photo: May Tse

Striker Toney in action against Al-Qadsiah as his team show no remorse in a 5-1 win. Photo: Elson Li

Al-Nassr boss expects more Cristiano Ronaldo mania in Hong Kong for Saudi final

Fans of Cristiano Ronaldo are uniting behind Al-Nassr’s bid for silverware in Hong Kong. Photo: Elson Li

Jorge Jesus (left) and Inigo Martínez with the trophy they will try to win on Saturday. Photo: May Tse

Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong: Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr lose final on penalties

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Dramatic shoot-out settles final at Hong Kong Stadium

Dramatic shoot-out settles final at Hong Kong Stadium