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Al Hilal Emerges Victorious In Saudi King Cup Over Al Nassr
Al Hilal emerged as the champions after a nail-biting 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Al Nassr.
The presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at King Abdullah Sports City added an air of prestige to the already highly anticipated encounter.
The match started with Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic opening the scoring just seven minutes into the game with a powerful header from Malcom’s well-placed cross.
The tension escalated further when Al Nassr goalkeeper David Ospina was shown a red card for handling the ball outside the box in an attempt to stop Malcom’s forward movement. Coach Luis Castro was forced to make a bold move by substituting forward Sadio Mane for reserve goalkeeper Walid Abdullah, as Al Nassr valiantly pressed on for an equalizer despite being a man down.
As the clock ticked down, the match took another dramatic twist as Al Hilal’s Ali Al-Bulayhi was sent off for violent conduct, leveling the playing field with both teams reduced to ten men.
However, the game took a dramatic turn when Al Nassr fought back, with Ayman Yahya scoring a last-gasp equalizer to force the match into extra time. Despite several close calls, including Ronaldo’s spectacular bicycle kick hitting the post, the teams remained deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
The tension reached its peak during the penalty shootout, with both teams displaying nerves of steel. Ultimately, it was Al Hilal’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, who emerged as the hero by saving Al Nassr’s last two penalties, securing a historic victory for his team in the Saudi Cup.
The heartbreak was evident on Cristiano Ronaldo’s face as he was still left searching for his first title in Saudi Arabia.
