Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears after his Al Nassr team lost the Saudi King’s Cup final to Al Hilal in a dramatic penalty shootout on Friday, marking the end of a trophy-less season. Al Hilal secured victory with a 5-4 win in the shootout following a 1-1 draw after regulation and extra time in Jeddah.
As the final whistle blew, Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, was visibly distraught, sinking to the ground as teammates and coaching staff tried to console him. Despite scoring in the shootout, he couldn’t change the outcome. Eventually, he was led off the field, still overcome with emotion, before he collected his runners-up medal.
Cristiano Ronaldo est INCONSOLABLE après la défaite aux tirs au but d'Al Nassr face à Al Hilal en finale de Coupe du roi des champions 🥺#AlHilalAlNassr pic.twitter.com/xLozSBYr9T
— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) May 31, 2024
This loss capped a frustrating season for Ronaldo and Al Nassr. They finished a distant second to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League. Earlier in the season, Ronaldo was suspended for an obscene gesture toward Al Shabab fans who had taunted him with chants of his rival, Lionel Messi.
Despite these setbacks, the 39-year-old Portuguese forward had an impressive individual season, scoring a record-breaking 35 goals in his first full Saudi Pro League season.
The final itself was eventful. Aleksandar Mitrovic gave Al Hilal an early lead in the seventh minute, but Aiman Yahya equalized for Al Nassr in the 88th minute, pushing the game into extra time. The match saw three red cards: David Ospina was sent off for Al Nassr in the 57th minute, followed by Ali Al-Bulayhi and Kalidou Koulibaly for Al Hilal later in the game.
King’s Cup Final Scorecard
Al Nassr vs Al Hilal
| Team | FT (AET & Penalties) | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|
| Al Nassr | 1 (4) | Yahya 88′ |
| Al Hilal | 1 (5) | Mitrovic 7′ |
In the penalty shootout, Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero, saving Al Nassr’s last two penalties to secure the victory and complete a league and cup double for his team.
Al Hilal vs Al Nassr: Penalty Shootout Drama
Al Hilal 5-4 Al Nassr Penalties
- Al Nemer (Al-Nassr): MISS! Hits the post! AL HILAL HAVE WON IT!
- Abdullah (Al Hilal): GOAL! Converts! Pressure back on Al Nassr…
- Al-Hassan (Al-Nassr): SAVED! Bono denies him!
- Abdulhamid (Al Hilal): MISS! Hits it right at the goalkeeper! Advantage Al Nassr!
- Lajami (Al-Nassr): GOAL! Picks out the top corner with ease!
- Hamddan (Al Hilal): GOAL! Finds the side netting with an excellent finish.
- Ghareeb (Al-Nassr): GOAL! Sneaks it past Bono! That was a close one…
- Tambakti (Al Hilal): GOAL! Steps up and rolls it in.
- Al Naji (Al-Nassr): GOAL! Ties it up!
- Kanno (Al Hilal): GOAL! Puts Al Hilal back in the lead.
- Ronaldo (Al-Nassr): GOAL! Sends Bono the wrong way and calmly slots it home.
- Mitrovic (Al Hilal): GOAL! Finally finds the back of the net!
- Alex Telles (Al-Nassr): MISS! Fires into row Z! What was he doing?!
- Ruben Neves (Al Hilal): MISS! Hits the post!
Al Hilal triumphs 5-4 on penalties, securing the King’s Cup in a thrilling shootout!
Remarkably, Al Hilal’s success came despite the absence of their star Brazilian forward, Neymar, who missed almost the entire season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injury in his left knee suffered in October shortly after joining from Paris Saint-Germain. Although not on the field, Neymar was present in the stands to support his team during the final.
You may also know about Al Nassr
Who is the top scorer in Al Nassr?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the current top scorer for Al Nassr. In his first full season with the team, he scored a record-breaking 35 goals in the Saudi Pro League.
How many cups has Al Nassr won?
- As of now, Al Nassr has won 28 domestic and international titles, including:
- Saudi Pro League (9 titles): 1974–75, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2018–19
- King’s Cup (6 titles): 1974, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1990
- Crown Prince Cup (3 titles): 1973, 1974, 2013–14
- Saudi Super Cup (2 titles): 2019, 2020
- Asian Cup Winners’ Cup (1 title): 1997–98
- Asian Super Cup (1 title): 1998
Which country is Al Naser?
Country of Al-Nassr: is based in Saudi Arabia.
What does Al Nassr mean in Arabic?
Meaning of Al Nassr in Arabic: “Al-Nassr” means “The Victory” in Arabic
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