Cristiano Ronaldo’s century of goals for Al Nassr should have been the headline on a historic night, but instead it became a footnote. The Riyadh giants lost 5–3 on penalties to Al Ahli in the Saudi Super Cup final, despite twice holding the lead during regulation time.
The Hong Kong Stadium crowd witnessed a game that swung like a pendulum controlled at times by Al Nassr’s individual brilliance, yet repeatedly disrupted by Al Ahli’s resilience and refusal to be overrun.
When Ronaldo stepped up from the spot in the 41st minute, the moment carried double weight. His conversion not only gave Al Nassr the lead but also etched his name into club history 100 goals since arriving in Saudi Arabia. It underlined the striker’s remarkable consistency and longevity.
But football rarely allows one player to control the narrative. Franck Kessié struck just before halftime, seizing space at the edge of the box and slotting past David Ospina. That equalizer punctured Al Nassr’s momentum and reminded everyone that Al Ahli were not in the final by chance.
Al Nassr regained control late in the second half. Marcelo Brozović, dictating midfield with his usual precision, capitalized in the 82nd minute with a clean finish after a defensive lapse from Al Ahli. At that stage, the cup seemed destined for Riyadh.
Yet, with the game slipping away, Al Ahli summoned one more act of defiance. In the 89th minute, Roger Ibáñez powered home a header from a set-piece. It was a hammer blow for Al Nassr, exposing again their vulnerability in closing moments of big games.
The match needed penalties to separate two sides unwilling to concede. For three rounds, both teams were flawless. Ronaldo, Brozović, and João Félix kept Al Nassr alive; Ivan Toney, Kessié, and Riyad Mahrez responded in kind for Al Ahli.
Then the pressure shifted. Abdullah Al-Khaibari’s effort was read and stopped by Édouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper who has built a reputation for thriving in decisive moments. With that save, the outcome felt inevitable.
Feras Al-Buraikan scored with calm precision, and Galeno completed the job, securing Al Ahli’s 5–3 shootout victory and sparking celebrations that contrasted sharply with the dejection in Al Nassr’s ranks.
The Broader Picture
For Al Nassr, this defeat deepens a worrying trend. Despite Ronaldo’s incredible tally 100 goals in just over two seasons the club continues to falter on the biggest stages. Finals have become stumbling blocks rather than milestones, raising questions about whether star power alone is enough to shift their fortunes.
Al Ahli, meanwhile, leave Hong Kong with more than a trophy. They displayed collective steel, twice clawing back from losing positions and then showing ice-cold composure in the shootout. Their win is not just about lifting silverware, it is a declaration of intent at the start of the season.
The Saudi Super Cup may not define the entire campaign, but it sets a tone. For Al Ahli, the tone is one of resilience and ambition. For Al Nassr, it is yet another reminder that moments of brilliance are not enough without the balance, discipline, and game management needed to close out finals.
0 Comments