Saudi Super Cup: Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr Trophy Less Enters Third Year After Losing Final To Al-Ahli

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr trophy drought will enter a third year after Al-Ahli twice recovered from falling behind to draw 2-2, then beat the Portuguese’s side 5-3 on penalties in Saturday’s Saudi Super Cup final.

A shoot-out saw Ronaldo convert his kick, having earlier netted his team’s opening goal of the match, also from the penalty spot.

But Edouard Mendy saved Al-Nassr’s fourth kick, from Abdullah Al-Khaibari, before Wenderson Galeno completed a perfect set of Al-Ahli penalties to win the club’s first Super Cup since 2016.

It had looked like Ronaldo was on his way to a 37th career trophy when he coolly clipped past Mendy after 41 minutes, but his side were pegged back when Franck Kessie stroked home one of the more unpopular goals scored in Hong Kong seconds before half-time.

Read Also: American Magazine Releases 2025 Black Billionaires List

Kessie went from hero to villain when Marcelo Brozovic robbed the dawdling Ivorian then crashed his 82nd-minute finish beyond Al-Ahli keeper Mendy to put Al-Nassr back in front.

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his opener with teammates. Photo: Elson Li
Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his opener with teammates.

With one minute remaining, however, Mendy’s opposite number, Bento, flapped hopelessly at a Riyad Mahrez corner to allow Roger Ibanez to head into an empty net for 2-2.

Ronaldo mania engulfed Hong Kong Stadium for the second time in five days, and when he sent a 22nd-minute overhead kick at Mendy the cheers were louder than those that would greet most goals.

Read Also: West Ham vs Chelsea: All You Need To Know

Until the man everyone came to see struck from 12 yards, there had been little to entertain the reported 30,240 supporters.

They began a Mexican wave during a water break on the half-hour, a sure sign of restlessness.

After 12 minutes, Ivan Toney had reignited his feud with Mohamed Simakan, the defender he accused on the eve of the match of “not being as good as he thinks he is”, and who was sent off for elbowing the England striker last season.

In this instance, Toney was booked after he left Simakan writhing on the ground and clutching his face following an aerial collision.

Joao Felix twice capitalised on weak defending, firstly from Galeno, then from Ibanez, to create opportunities that Mendy saved. Between times, Wesley, who replaced the suspended Sadio Mane, was sent streaking clear on the left.

The Brazilian ignored Kingsley Coman in the middle to aim narrowly past the far post. When Wesley’s chipped delivery struck nearest defender Ali Majrashi, the referee Mohammed Al-Hoish, who sent off Ronaldo in a 2023 Super Cup semi-final, unhesitatingly pointed to the spot.

Cries of “Ronaldo, Ronaldo” rolled around the stadium, as he waited around three minutes for Al-Ahli’s protests to die down. He struck down the middle, while Mendy took off to his left.

Read Also: 2027: Jonathan Maintains Silence As Northern Opposition Intensifies Pressure

Toney was offside when he headed home a delivery from Enzo Millot, as Al-Ahli belatedly came to life. And the current Asian champions drew level deep into first-half stoppage time when Kessie beautifully curled into the bottom right corner, adding to the two goals he scored in the semi-final demolition of Al-Qadsiah.

Ronaldo forced Mendy to save to his right soon after the restart. Firas Al-Buraikan sidefooted against the inside of a post after 71 minutes, as the second half came to the boil.

Brozovic thought he had won it, only for Ibanez’s leveller to set the stage for Mendy and Galeno to emerge as the heroes of the night.

Read Also: FG, States, LGs Share N2.001trn July Revenue

Ronaldo’s two-year wait to add to his single piece of silverware with Al-Nassr, the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, will go on.