HONG KONG - Al Nassr advanced to the Saudi Super Cup final after defeating Al Ittihad 2-1 in the semifinals at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday, with Cristiano Ronaldo setting up Joao Felix for the decisive goal, reported Xinhua.
The 2025 Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong brought together four teams competing in two semifinals and vying for the final.
Over 30,000 spectators - many Ronaldo fans - filled the stadium for the opening semifinal. Al Nassr lined up with Ronaldo and Joao Felix, while Al Ittihad featured Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante.
Al Nassr struck first after 10 minutes when Marcelo Brozovic surged down and pulled back for Sadio Mane, who finished with a first-time volley. Al Ittihad got back on level terms five minutes later, when Moussa Diaby laid it off for Steven Bergwijn to find the net.
Mane went from hero to zero minutes later as he was sent off for an awful challenge on the opposite goalkeeper, Hamed Al Shanqiti.
With one player down, Al Nassr nevertheless restored the lead in the 61st minute when Ronaldo sprung the offside trap and selflessly squared for Felix to tap it into the empty net. The winner helped Al Nassr secure a spot in the final.
Ronaldo, captaining Al Nassr from the outset, was substituted in the 90th minute and received applause from every corner of the stadium as he left the pitch. - BERNAMA-XINHUA