Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Al-Nassr, was replaced late in the game. It was on Monday following an intense match in Abu Dhabi. And in the Saudi Super Cup semifinal, his club lost 2-1 to their local rivals, Al-Hilal.
Four minutes from time, Portugal’s top scorer received a straight red card. It was for elbowing an opponent when his team trailed 2-0 before rallying for a late goal.
In the 62nd minute, Salem Al-Dawsari scored Jorge Al-Hilal’s first goal. Thus, sending the ball into the bottom right corner off a flick from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Following Michael’s long cross from the right, it reached his teammate in the centre of the box undefended.
Brazilian attacker Malcolm extended the lead with a stunning header in the 72nd minute. After a ball from Abdulrahman Ghareeb, former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane put Al-Nassr on the board in stoppage time.
In the Thursday final, Al-Hilal will go up against Karim Benzema’s Al-Ittihad. Those who defeated Al-Wehda 2-1 in the previous round on Monday, to win a record-tying fourth championship. Even with one man down, Talisca’s goal in stoppage time gave Al-Nassr a chance to rally. Still, it was just a hollow comfort when the last whistle blew shortly after.
Match Recap
It was a titanic match between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr in the much anticipated Saudi Super Cup semi-final. After a heated struggle, Al-Hilal prevailed 2-1, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s late red card will live on in memory. But Al-Hilal grew more menacing after the break. In the 62nd minute, Salem Al-Dawsari made a swift counterattack. It allowed them to slip the ball past the Ronaldo’s team custodian.
After ten minutes, Luciano Vietto’s goal increased Al-Hilal’s advantage and strengthened their hold. Ronaldo Notices the Red as they face the wall, and Al-Nassr’s annoyance starts to build up.
In the 86th minute of play, the game changed drastically. Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain, was straight red-carded for elbowing an Al-Hilal player at that point in the game. And this act of disobedience virtually destroyed al-Nassr’s hopes for a comeback.
An additional note on the match
Regardless of the final result, Al-Nassr made a solid start and established themselves right away. They lost control in the second half as Al-Hilal attacked their weaknesses.
Talisca’s Influence: Talisca, the attacking midfielder from Brazil for Al-Nassr, posed a constant threat throughout the whole match. Even though he was not able to lead his team to win, his goal in the closing minutes showed his potential.
Al-Hilal’s defensive resiliency: Skilled defenders led Al-Hilal’s backline throughout most of the game. Jang Hyun-soo and Ali Albulayhi effectively halted oppositions assault . Once in charge, their composure under pressure ensured they maintained their advantage.
Post Match Reaction
Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus praised the tenacity and skillful finishing of his squad. While praising Al-Nassr’s impressive beginning, he focused on his team’s tactical changes that helped them win.
Man of the Match winner Salem Al-Dawsari, forward for Al-Hilal: happy to have contributed to the team’s victory and trip to the championship. He downplayed the red card incident and focused more on the team’s overall performance.
Manager Luis Castro of Al-Nassr: Disappointed in the outcome but unwilling to assign blame for the red card. He complimented Al-Hilal on their victory and acknowledged oppositions inability to convert opportunities.
Cristiano Ronaldo: After the game, he declined to talk to the media. On social media, he vented his rage about the red card, but he remained silent about the team’s defeat.
Match highlights
Talisca’s influence threatened Al-Nassr. But Al-Hilal’s victory was a result of their tactical awareness, scoring opportunities, and strong defensiveness. Although Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card marked a turning point, causing Al-Nassr’s hopes to falter. Al-Hilal’s Man of the Match scored Ronaldo.
