Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post and narrowly missed out on a first home trophy against Al Nassr as the Saudi Pro League side lost the 2024 King’s Cup final 5-4 on penalties to nine players from Al Hilal following a 1-1 draw. after more time in Jeddah.
Al Nassr, who also had a man sent off, would have won if Ali Al Hassan had changed his position in the shootout, only for Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to save the Saudi Arabian midfielder’s effort.
After Salem Aldawsari scored his subsequent penalty, Bounou stopped Meshari Al-Nemer’s strike to secure top-flight champions Al Hilal the treble.
🔵⚪ Al Hilal 1-1 Al Nassr 🟡🔵
The 2024 King’s Cup final will go to extra time following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes at King Abdullah Sport City.#KingsCup pic.twitter.com/oS0jSRNjWa
– Saudi Arabian Football Federation (@saudiff_en) May 31, 2024
Former Fulham and Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic grabbed the opener in the seventh minute at King Abdullah Sports City, but Ayman Yahya scored an equalizer two minutes from the end of normal time.
Al Nassr’s foes held on for the final time this season as Al Hilal picked up yet another trophy, defeating Ronaldo’s side en route to winning the Saudi Super Cup in April and finishing 12 points above them in the league.
The unbeaten champions successfully defended the King’s Cup, winning for the 11th time and Ronaldo was saved by hitting the woodwork with an attempt to play two minutes after the break.
King’s Cup Final: Goals, red cards, penalties
Al Nassr were hampered by David Ospina’s dismissal 11 minutes later when the former Napoli and Arsenal goalkeeper handled the ball outside his penalty area.
Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane was quickly sent off to allow substitute goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah to come on.
Ospina was trying to prevent Malcom, who was sharpening Mitrovic’s goal, to break and score Al Hilal’s second.
⚽️ Leading the MITRO title 📸#AlHilal 💙 pic.twitter.com/brK4Bh8hNX
– AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) May 31, 2024
Serbian striker Mitrovic, who is in his first season in Saudi Arabia, could have made it 2-0 but sent one chance wide of the post.
Al Hilal took that to heart when Ali Albulayahi was sent off for a headbutt on Sami Al-Najei in the 87th minute, a move that drew the infamous defender into an argument with him.
After Yahya equalised, Al Hilal lost both defenders when former Chelsea player Kalidou Koulibaly saw red for a challenge on Abdullah one minute into the second half.
After another 30 minutes, Al Hilal missed their first penalty when Ruben Neves sent his shot wide, Alex Telles quickly headed his over the Al Nassr crossbar.
Ronaldo scored the right goal, as did Mitrovic – the only player to come close to Ronaldo’s impressive tally of 35 goals in 34 league games, scoring 28 times.
Abdullah saved Saud Abdulhamid’s penalty to put Al Nassr on the brink of glory but Al Hassan could not capitalize, with Al Nemer following a rudimentary decision.
