Cristiano Ronaldo missed out on another trophy as Al-Nassr were beaten on penalties in the Saudi Super Cup final by Al-Ahli following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Al-Nassr lost on penalties after drawing 2-2Ronaldo heroics were not enough Wait for silverware continues for the PortugueseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE
Right from the first whistle, Al-Nassr looked like a team on a mission to help Ronaldo clinch his second title in Saudi Arabia since he won the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023. Jorge Jesus' men piled on the pressure with a flurry of attacks, but the chances went begging due to some poor finishing, and they ultimately tasted disappointment.
Wesley made a darting run down the byline and cut into the box, attempting to find the far post, but his shot fizzed just wide. Felix then had another opportunity, but Edouard Mendy, the opposing goalkeeper, was quick to react and denied the shot. Ronaldo, never one to shy away from the spotlight, tried his own acrobatic attempt in the 22nd minute, but his overhead kick went straight to the keeper.
Nassr kept persevering to take the lead, and in the 41st minute, they drew first blood when the referee awarded them a penalty when the ball struck Ali Majrashi’s arm in the box. With the tension mounting, it was only fitting that Ronaldo stepped up to take the spot-kick. Calmly, he slotted the ball down the middle, sending Mendy the wrong way to put his team 1-0 ahead. However, their joy was short-lived as Franck Kessie curled in a brilliant shot from the edge of the box, beating goalkeeper Bento and restoring parity.
As the match neared its conclusion, it appeared that Marcelo Brozovic had sealed the deal for Al-Nassr. With eight minutes remaining, he pounced on a loose ball following a mistake from Kessi, who lost possession at the edge of the box. Brozovic calmly curled the ball into the far corner, past Mendy, who had no chance. But just when victory seemed certain, Al Ahli had one last surprise. In a dramatic final moment, Roger Ibanez rose above the rest to head home a corner and equalise for Al Ahli.
In the penalty shootout, Mendy emerged as the hero as he kept out Abdullah Al-Khaibari's attempt to seal the trophy for Al-Ahli.
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At 40 years old, Ronaldo not only proved his enduring quality but also made history by scoring his 100th goal for Al-Nassr, becoming the first player ever to net 100+ goals for five different teams: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr and Portugal.
THE MVP
Mendy was the showstopper on Saturday evening. He denied Ronaldo in the second half, and in the shootout, he won the battle of nerves against Al-Khaibari to inspire his team to silverware.
AFPTHE BIG LOSER
Ronaldo lost out on another trophy, and yet the Portuguese could have done little more in the match. He scored the two spot-kicks that he attempted, tested Mendy on a couple of occasions, and was arguably the brightest spark in Al-Nassr's attack. And yet, there is more disappointment.