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 2-2
Ronaldo heroics were not enough
Wait for silverware continues for the Portuguese.
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.
