Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong: Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr lose final on penalties
Dramatic shoot-out settles final at Hong Kong Stadium
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.
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.
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.